[log in to unmask] schrieb:
> For what it may be worth to historic archaeologists (and such information can
> be useful at times), here is the proper use of animal group terminology,
> provided by James G. Doherty, General Curator, The Wildlife Conservation
> Society.
>
> Science and Technology—Environment & Nature
> Animal Group Terminology
>
> Source: James G. Doherty, General Curator,
>  The Wildlife Conservation Society
>
> (taken from: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0004725.html)
>
>
> ants:       colony
> bears:      sleuth, sloth
> bees:       grist, hive, swarm
> birds:      flight, volery
> cattle:         drove
> cats:       clutter, clowder
> chicks:     brood, clutch
> clams:  bed
> cranes:     sedge, seige
> crows:       murder

i've never been able to verify this - not in the oed - the concise oed i have
also has a list - appendix xvi, page 1667, 9th edition -
        some of these "belong to 15th century lists of 'proper terms', notably
that in the book of st albans atributed to dame juliana barnes (1486). many of
these are fanciful or humorous terms which probably never had any real currency,
but have been taken up by joseph strutt in sports and pastimes of england (1801)
and by other antiquarian writers."


> doves:  dule
> ducks:      brace, team
> elephants:  herd
> elks:       gang
> finches:    charm
> fish:       school, shoal, draught
> foxes:      leash, skulk
> geese:      flock, gaggle, skein
> gnats:      cloud, horde
> goats:      trip
> gorillas:   band
> hares:      down, husk
> hawks:  cast
> hens:       brood
> hogs:       drift
> horses:     pair, team
> hounds:     cry, mute, pack
> kangaroos:  troop
> kittens:    kindle, litter
> larks:      exaltation
> lions:      pride
> locusts:    plague
> magpies:    tidings
> mules:  span
> nightingales:   watch
> oxen:       yoke
> oysters:    bed
> parrots:    company
> partridges:     covey
> peacocks:   muster, ostentation
> pheasants:   nest, bouquet
> pigs:       litter
> ponies:     string
> quail:      bevy, covey
> rabbits:     nest
> seals:      pod
> sheep:  drove, flock
> sparrows:   host
> storks:     mustering
> swans:  bevy, wedge
> swine:  sounder
> toads:      knot
> turkeys:    rafter
> turtles:    bale
> vipers:     nest
> whales:     gam, pod
> wolves:     pack, route
> woodcocks:  fall

others:

destruction of wild cats
sounder of wild boar
drunkship of cobblers
blush of boys
superfluity of nuns
pity of prisoners
malapertness of pedlars
desert of lapwing
labour of moles
barren of mules
unkindness of ravens
glozing of taverners
trip of wigeon
knob of water/wildfowl
siege of herons
observance of hermits
fling of dunlins

geoff carver
http://home.t-online.de/home/gcarver/
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