The message
from Jaques d'Alltrades contains
these words:

The message
from Janet Baraclough contains these words:

The commonest examples in Britain are yew berries and fruits of some
members of the nighshade family; birds eat both with no ill effects, but
they are poisonous to humans. Other examples are birds that can safely
feed on carrion (raw rotting meat) and the faeces of other species.
Humans can't.

The fleshy part of yew berries can be eaten, the (deadly) poison is only
in the seeds.

I know. But the point is, birds safely eat the whole yew berry
including the seed, and we can't. Their digestive tract doesn't break
down the seed, but emits it in perfect condition to grow into a new yew
wherever the bird poohed it.

Janet.

Janet.