"William Morse"  wrote in message
news:cdc3u3$2hpv$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org...
> Tim Tyler  wrote in
> news:cd77b1$tc7$1{at}darwin.ediacara.org:
>
> > William Morse  wrote or quoted:
> >
> >> This leads to the question of why there are no toxic birds. Again
> >> contingency is one answer. Anybody have any others?
> >
> > Dubious premise:
> >
> > ``The Hooded Pitohui, and two close relatives, are the first
> > documented
> >   poisonous birds.''
> >
> >  - http://www.interaktv.com/articles/pitohui.htm
> >
> > http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2001/2/intoxnewguineabir
> > ds.cfm
> >
> > ...has the full story.
>
> Thanks for the reference. In my defense I will note the phrase "the first
> documented poisonous birds" in a 2001 article.Now I have to go find out if
> they advertise their toxicity.

You are on a roll, Bill.  Assuming that the purpose of biological theory
is to elicit fascinating biological facts, you must be reckoned as a very
successful sbe theorist.  Have any more good theories?  ;-)
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