SONG CHALLENGE WINNER!

The Song Challenge:  Is That A Baby Budgie In Your Pants, Or Are You Just Glad To See Me? -- RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (Reuters) -- With parrots and snakes in his luggage and bird eggs tucked into his underwear, an Austrian tourist has been arrested and charged for animal trafficking, Brazilian police said on Wednesday.   "He put (the eggs) near his testicles so they would be at nest temperature," a police spokesman said.  Police discovered 21 parrots, four parakeets and two snakes hidden in two large suitcases carried by Austrian botanist Johann Zillinger.  hey also found Zillinger had rolled five parakeet eggs into a sock and nestled them in his underwear.  "Since some of the parakeets that he had with him were newborns, we assume that some of the eggs had already hatched."  Tipped off by an anonymous call, Rio de Janeiro police arrested the Austrian on Monday in front of his Copacabana beach hotel, as he climbed into a taxi on his way to catch a flight to Europe.  According to police, Zillinger bought the animals in the Amazon port city of Belen and planned to take them to Austria to sell them in Europe.


The Marvelous Johann by Deda
(To the tune of Tom Paxton's Marvellous Little Toy)

Deda's Comments:  Well, it takes folly and hubris to jump into the mudcat Challenge ring -- and I may have just enough to do it only once.   Ahem (shuffling of papers and feet, clearing of throat, modest downcasting of eyes . . . )

CHORUS:
He went Tweet when he moved
and Squawk when he stopped
and hissss when he stood still
He never could suppress these sounds,
that amazing Johann Zill

When I was down in Rio town
I met the strangest man
From Austria, Herr Zillinger
The marvellous Johann.
A wonder to behold he was
With many brilliant hues
of Feathers stuck from his pockets
And noises from his shoes --

He went Tweet when he moved
and Squawk when he stopped
and hissss when he stood still
He never could suppress these sounds,
that amazing Johann Zill

The first time I shook hands with him
I got a big surprise
Peering at me from up his sleeve
Were two big green snake eyes!
Johann stood at a slant, and he tugged at his pants,
listing, and shuffling his feet.
Imagine my astonishment
when he hatched that parakeet!

He went Twee-TWEET when he moved
and Squawk when he stopped
and hissss when he stood still
He never could suppress these sounds,
that poor old Johann Zill

The years have gone by, too slowly it seems,
for my poor friend Johann,
Languishing in Brazilian jail
With his cellmate, a Toucan.
Gazing through bars at Brazilian stars
And hearing the loud birds call,
Old Johann tries to join their song
From his lonely little stall

He still goes Tweet when he moves
and Squawk when he stops
and hissss when he stands still
He never could shut himself up
and I guess he never will.

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