ol’ dippy, I

Sarah’s parents (Larry especially) love to buy gag gifts for Christmas. This year, Sarah thought she’d turn the tables on them.

Larry got a lobster claw harmonica and Chris got a thirsty dipping bird. The crustacean harp lost its novelty pretty quickly, but ol’ dippy here provided hours of entertainment.

(In case you were wondering how these drinking birds work: They’re filled with methylene chloride liquid and vapor. The head is covered with a spongy, absorbent material which is to be immersed in a glass of water. As the water evaporates, the head cools off. The vapor pressure in the head is lowered, causing the liquid to move up the neck. When the head fills up with liquid, it tips over and dips into the glass. The head is re-wetted as the liquid drains back to the body and the bird sits up again, primed for another drink!)

ol’ dippy, I