The flexibility of the English language is in no way better illustrated than by the use made of it by sportsmen in designating particular groups of animals. The following is a list of the terms which have been applied to the various classes:

A covey of patridges.

A nide of pheasants.

A wisp of snipe.

A flight of doves or swallows.

A muster of peacocks.

A siege of herons.

A building of rooks.

A brood of grouse.

A plump of wild fowl.

A stand of plovers.

A watch of nightingales.

A clattering of cloughs.

A flock of geese.

A herd or bunch of cattle.

A bevy of quails.

A. cast of hawks. A trip of dottrell. A swarm of bees. A school of whales. A shoal of herrings. A herd of swine. A skulk of foxes. A pack of wolves. A drove of oxen. A sounder of hogs. A troop of monkeys. A pride of lions. A sleuth of bears. A gang of elk.