Why a Duck?

Chico and Groucho Marx during the classic "Why a Duck?" scene from The Cocoanuts.

Why a Duck? is a comedy routine featured in the Marx Brothers movie The Cocoanuts. In a scene in which Groucho and Chico are discussing a map, Groucho mentions the presence of a viaduct between the mainland and a peninsula. Chico, who is playing the role of an immigrant with poor English skills, replies "Why a duck?" This leads into a long schtick positing the existence of "Why a chickens?," "Why a horses?," and so forth.

Why a Duck? is a touchstone scene for Marx Brothers fans, as evidenced by a book of the same name (featuring a foreword by Groucho) which focuses on the minutiae of the Marx Brothers' routines.