The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1881-11-02
Robins Getting Drunk Oh the
Berries of the China Tree.

Berries OF the China Tree.
In Georgia and some other parts
Of the South there is a large, spread
ing tree, very beautiful In early May
when covered with its delicate veil of
lovely bloom, which is variously
known as the "Pride of China" and
''Pride of India" Its berries, as it
appears from the following brief ret>
erence TO the tree in letter to Forest
02ed Stream from Barlow, Georgia,
have the properly of intoxicating
birds. The writer of the letter, it
appears, had said SO, and been laugh
ed at as fraud. In another letter
he maintains it as a fact. The expe
rimeut we quote was made before the
war:
During last May wrote you lit
Gle sketch, a continuation OF "SouthA
ern Wood Notes." in which l mems
toned in rather playful manner the
habits of some birds. No attempt
was made at scientific description,
but some notes were inserted con-
corning the habits OF our migratory
birds, which l trusted might prove
interesting to Northern naturalists.
Among other birds mentioned we're
the crow and the robin. About the
robin especially several OF your cor
respondents have been much eAer-
ciSed III their vast and powerful
minds. a storm OF righteous indig-
nation is spoured upon me for my
sins, in that Irmade Cock Robin
Il cool deliberate, uumitigated inebn-
ate.
noticed that robins were in the
habit Of falling stupetied to the
ground after u long continued feast
upon berries of the China tree
Again, some were not stupefied at
ali, but were as sober as judges, and
they looked with i'll concealed coh-
tempt upon their more convivially
inclined associates. Some, in the
trolicksome stage, would buffet their
companions with their wings, and
altogether, would present most "a
kish and dissipated appearance. Now
here was seeming contradiction.
All ate Of the berries. Ergo, if one
got drunk, all should get drunk: or
tnere must be seasoned "bummers"
among them, who, being drunk, Car :
ried it off as some men 90, with owl
like gravity and wisdom most edi
Tying to behold.
10 satisfy myself that these birds
Were drunk, and, like honest Cassie,
had put an enemy into their mouths
TO steal away their blalns,' l took
several one evening TO my room;
which room was the chosen resting
place OF myself and an incipient saw
bones. He knew enough OF medi-
cine to know the most powerful
antido;es to alcoholic poisoning, and
we applied them in q diluted aud
cautions way to the gay and festive
robins, our patients. l am sorry to
record that not one Thanked us tor
our efforts, but they flew out OF the
window, nor paused to pay any med
zeal fee.
"Peffectly recovered" Had you
seen them as they went careenlng
over the tree tops you would have
thought that some fellow had been
giving them hook and soda after a
nights debauch.
But the most curious part Of the
whole affair was the comical resen-
blance each robin bore to somebody
ofour acquaintance, when in his cups
There was one old robin, very Fal
staff in Size and vinous tendencies
who had the same moist eye, the
same love OF sack and TIE raklsh an
Of Sir John.
\ One, when,the antidote had its tai
effect upon him, actually winked al
me and the immature sawbones ii
J the most patcrnal manner. Another