Today's Animal Fact: What do you call a bunch of crocodiles?by Katerina Lorenzatos Makris
Any book informing us that “peladophobia is a fear of bald people,”
that “snowflakes come in six types,” and that “St. Clotilde is the
patron saint of disappointing children” deserves a spot on the favorites
shelf.
A Compendium of Indispensable Facts by Ben Horslen (Toucan Books/Barnes and Noble Books, 2003) delivers all that as well as fascinating animal info.
Today’s Animal Fact comes from Horslen’s section on “Nouns of Assemblage,” listing what you call groups of various animals.
Try working these into your next casual conversation…
A bask of crocodiles
A deceit of lapwings
An earth of foxes
A kennel of hounds
A labor of moles
A parade of elephants
A scourge of mosquitoes
A sedge of bitterns
A sownder of swans
A stand of flamingoes
A tittering of magpies
An unkindness of ravens
A walk of snails
A yoke of oxen
A zeal of zebras
Departing from the animal realm, there’s…
A galaxy of astronomers
A haggle of shopkeepers
A skulk of thieves
A tabernacle of bakers
A pandemonium of devils
A prudence of vicars
On the shady side…
An incredibility of cuckolds
A flourish of strumpets
Just for you, ladies…
A multiplying of husbands
A parcel of bachelors
And speaking of crocodiles…
The photo accompanying this article comes courtesy of biologist Cherie Chenot-Rose, cofounder of American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) in Punta Gorda, Belize.
Through its many programs ACES works on behalf of the
much-beleaguered American crocodile, an apex predator species that is
critically important in local ecosystems.
Check out the group’s fascinating website to donate, to plan your next vacation in ACES’s eco-friendly Croc Cabanas, and to “Help Take a Bite Out of Extinction.”
|
