Self-Diagnosis

“Interesting to behold is the evolution of the tropical butterfly,” says Robert C. Bruce, as we sit back to enjoy another phoney travelogue. “Let’s watch this curious transformation as from this lowly, insignificant little cocoon emerges a full-grown butterfly, vividly marked with all the gorgeous colours of the rainbow.”



And one after the next, butterflies are spat out of their cocoons (Treg Brown handles a blown-up balloon to get the sound of the stretching of the cocoon). But the third one is a shaking runt.



“Well, I’ve been sick,” the quasi-butterfly tells the audience.

The gag is from “Aviation Vacation” (1941). Tex Avery used it in other cartoons. If anyone knows the origin of the phrase, let me know.