Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Reno, NV
Posts: 16,915
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Humor: Birds and Fish
This is an absolute true story. I know, because I am the "I" in the story.
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Several years ago I was at a dinner party. Part way through the party, this highly educated man begins a short monologue on reproduction. Since the man had been an M.D. for over 30 years he had more than cursory knowledge of the subject.
"You know that some animals lay eggs and others birth their young live," he began. Heads nod all around the table as he continued, "A few creatures, such as some sharks, produce an egg sac which are then incubated within
their own bodies." A few of us nod but most seem surprised by this. Being directly across from him, we are making constant eye contact.
He says, almost directly to me, "Mammals give birth to their young alive." Again I nod in the affirmative, as he continues with, "MOST birds lays eggs." (At this point I had no reason to suspect fowl [sic] play.)
"Wait a minute," says I. "ALL birds lay eggs. It is a condition of being a bird!"
"No, that is not strictly true. Not ALL birds lay eggs," he says. "You, as an intelligent, educated person should know, this," he says, looking at me expectantly. (The hook has been baited and is being dangled in front of the
fish.)
I challenge him with, "Really!!! Name one bird that does not lay eggs!" (The fish has taken the bait!)
"Well, for one, the peacock does not lay eggs," as he eyes me with a provocative look, awaiting my response. (The fish has swallowed the bait, hook, line and sinker!)
I respond with, "Now it is I who am surprised. You, with all your education, actually believe this?"
"I am pretty sure that peacocks don't lay eggs," he says. (Letting the fish run a little.)
Sensing weakness, I launch into a lecture on the characteristics of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and, eventually, birds. He lets me ramble, while he reels me in.
"If peacocks don't lay eggs, how DO they reproduce?" I ask, with a satisfied look on my face. Seriously, it couldn't have gone any better for him if he had scripted it. (The fisherman is reeling vigorously, and the net is in hand.)
"Well, generally, the peaHEN lays the eggs." (That quick, I am in the net, all fight gone.)
As I groan quietly while the other 40 people laugh uncontrollably, I realize that he is right. The species of bird is actually a peaFOWL, and I have been had. So, the fisherman enjoys his trout while I feast on crow. (Do trout lay eggs?)
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Platypus are mammals who lay eggs.
