What Is This?

Muses Erato and Thalia had recently been given some lovely gifts from thoughtful visitors, however they didn't know what they were or how to use them.

Muse Thalia suggested that they take them to Parlour Games to see if their guests would know what they are.

In fine Parlour tradition Muse Thalia recited her weekly limerick:

Said Poirot to Hastings, "Don't scowl;
Just keep digging around with that trowel."
"Oh, good heavens! It's here!"
Cried young Hastings in fear,
A dead chicken. It's Murder Most Fowl."

Muse Erato took a curious looking pink item from her pocket, and turned it on and off. It sounded as though there were small people inside this box like thing singing and talking!

Beginning with the letter A and going to letter Z in Muse fashion, the players came up with some very interesting ideas as to what Erato was holding:

An artichoke that harbours ants.
Box for catching beams...radio beams
Contraption that emits shock waves
Dance Music To be found by turning the knobs
Elephant's pouch
Faxsimile, a bit modified.
Groan maker
Hot pink thing that play Hip Hop Noise!!!
Interesting sounding time machine!
Joke Machine
Kaleidoscope.
Ladies bedside story machine
Music is sometimes heard from it...if you can find the right place
News can be heard on the hour!
Oracle caller
Pink pig that plays pretty prerecorded songs
Quite honestly I'm not sure. maybe its for Questing
Radio, a most modern device
Sexy sounds called romantic music come true
Terpsi's Tap Dancing Machine
Ugly ultramodern gadget that ullulates in ultrashort waves.
Voice amplifier
Wireless device used to transmit sounds
Xylophonic diotonic tones on classical channel
Yo-yo dispenser for pink yo-yo's!
Zillions, probably made of zinc, and they have no zenith tube.