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22
A Coalition of Cheetahs
Cheetah biologists use “coalition” for males that live together. Brothers from the same litter sometimes form one. The word names a social partnership that can continue long after the cats have grown.
23
A Sounder of Wild Boar
The old hunting word “sounder” still turns up in wildlife management. A sounder commonly consists of females and their young. Adult males often spend their time alone.
24
An Exaltation of Larks
The 1486 glossary used a form closer to “exalting.” The modern phrase took on another life as the title of James Lipton’s book on collective nouns. The upward movement implied by the name suits a skylark’s climbing song flight.
25
A Charm of Goldfinches
The 1486 book used “cherme” for goldfinches. English later commonly wrote it as “charm.” The birds in this flock are European goldfinches, easy to spot by the splash of yellow across each wing.
26
A Cete of Badgers
The 1486 book used “cete” for a group of animals it called “grays,” an old name for badgers. “Sett” is a different word. It describes the badgers’ underground home, like the one pictured behind this pair.
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A Skulk of Foxes
The Book of Saint Albans assigned “skulk” to foxes, and it used the same word for thieves. The pairing makes the old vocabulary sound like a character description. Red foxes sometimes turn up in family groups around a den.
28
A Leap of Leopards
The 1486 glossary gives a “lepe” for leopards. The name sounds livelier than a typical leopard encounter, since adult leopards generally live alone. A female with dependent cubs is a visible example of leopards traveling together.
29
A Prickle of Porcupines
Auckland Zoo has called its Cape porcupine group a “prickle.” The protective quills supply the word’s visual joke. Cape porcupines may share burrows with a mate and their young.
30
A Pod of Orcas
“Pod” names a genuine social grouping. Researchers studying the Southern Residents in the Pacific Northwest know their pods by the letters J, K, and L. Each contains related family lines, so the word can mean more than a chance gathering of whales.
31
A Building of Rooks
The 1486 spelling was “beldyng.” Rooks commonly nest in colonies, with many nests high in the same trees. “Building” fits the image of several birds adding sticks to a shared skyline.
32
A Siege of Herons
“Siege” is the modern spelling of a word the 1486 glossary used for herons and bitterns. The imposing name contrasts with the patience of a heron standing in shallow water. The birds can also nest together in colonies.
33
A Fall of Woodcocks
Late-medieval readers could find a “fall” of woodcocks in the printed list. Many birders simply describe a gathering as a group of woodcocks, and the historical phrase survives mostly as word trivia.
34
A Nye of Pheasants
A “nye,” pronounced like “nigh,” is an old name for a group of pheasants. The 1486 glossary uses the term for pheasants, while other game birds on the same page get different names.
35
A Covey of Quail
“Covey” is an old game-bird word that remains useful for an actual group. Northern bobwhites gather in coveys outside the breeding season. At night they can huddle in a ring with their heads pointed outward.
36
A Raft of Ducks
A “raft” of ducks is gathered on the water. Eiders can form conspicuous rafts at sea, where a tight group looks like a single floating patch. The older glossary’s “badling” is a separate traditional duck term.
37
A Parade of Elephants
“Parade” is a playful name that suits a line of moving elephants. In the field, “herd” or “family” describes their actual social unit. African elephant families commonly include a female leader, other females and young.
