 There is an obvious reference to one of John Cleese (qv)s and  Michael Palin (qv)s most famous sketches, the Dead Parrot Sketch,  from _"Monty Pythons Flying Circus" (1969)_ (qv). In the sea lion  scene, two men can be heard saying: "Remarkable creatures, sea  lions." "Yes, beautiful plumage." Which sounds amazingly like  Palins line in the sketch: "Remarkable bird, the Norwegian Blue,  isnt it, eh? Beautiful plumage!"