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One of the craziest oddities of the English language is that there are so many different collective nouns
that all mean "group" but which are specific to what particular thing there is a group of: a herd of
elephants, a crowd of people, a box of crayons (pencils or sticks of coloured chalk or wax), a pad of
paper, etc. There is great diversity of collective nouns associated with animals, from a sleuth of bears to
a murder of crows. The following is a list of the correct terms to describe groups of various types of
animals.
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dule of doves leash of rabbits
flight of doves trace of rabbits
piteousness of doves trip of rabbits
flight of dragons warren of rabbits
weyr of dragons nest of rabbits (young)
wing of dragons wrack of rabbits (young)
brace of ducks gaze of raccoons
flock of ducks nursery of raccoons
flush of ducks colony of rats
paddling of ducks horde of rats
raft of ducks mischief of rats
team of ducks pack of rats
aerie of eagles plague of rats
convocation of eagles swarm of rats
swarm of eels rhumba of rattlesnakes
herd of elephants storytelling of ravens
memory of elephants unkindness of ravens
parade of elephants crash of rhinocerouses
gang of elk building of rooks
herd of elk clamor of rooks
mob of emus storytelling of rooks
business of ferrets run of salmon
cast of ferrets school of salmon
fesnyng of ferrets shoal of salmon
charm of finches bob of seals
catch of fish colony of seals
haul of fish crash of seals
run of fish harem of seals
school of fish herd of seals
shoal of fish pod of seals
swarm of flies rookery of seals
lead of foxes spring of seals
leash of foxes team of seals
skulk of foxes school of shark
army of frogs shiver of shark
colony of frogs down of sheep
knot of frogs drove of sheep
flock of geese flock of sheep
gaggle of geese fold of sheep
skein of geese (in flight) hurtle of sheep
wedge of geese (flying in a 'V') trip of sheep
horde of gerbils bed of snakes
corps of giraffes den of snakes
herd of giraffes nest of snakes
tower of giraffes pit of snakes
cloud of gnats walk of snipes
horde of gnats wisp of snipes
swarm of gnats host of sparrows
herd of gnus dray of squirrels
implausibility of gnus scurry of squirrels
drove of goats murmuration of starlings
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herd of goats muster of storks
tribe of goats mustering of storks
trip of goats flight of swallows
charm of goldfinches bevy of swans
glint of goldfish herd of swans
band of gorillas wedge of swans (flying in a 'V')
skein of goslings flock of swifts
leash of greyhounds drift of swine
covey of grouse sounder of swine
pack of grouse spring of teals
colony of gulls ambush of tigers
group of guinea pigs streak of tigers
horde of hamsters knot of toads
drove of hares hover of trout
down of hares flock of turkeys
husk of hares brood of turkeys (immature)
leash of hares bale of turtles
trace of hares generation of vipers
trip of hares nest of vipers
warren of hares colony of vultures
aerie of hawks mob of wallabees
cast of hawks herd of walruses
kettle of hawks pod of walruses
array of hedgehogs pack of weasels
prickle of hedgehogs sneak of weasels
brood of hens gam of whales
hedge of herons herd of whales
sedge of herons pod of whales
siege of herons school of whales
shoal of herrings plump of wildfowl
crash of hippopotami herd of wolves
herd of hippopotami pack of wolves
bloat of hippopotami rout of wolves
drift of hogs route of wolves
parcel of hogs warren of wombats
passel of hogs fall of woodcocks
nest of hornets descent of woodpeckers
harras of horses herd of yaks
herd of horses herd of zebras
stable of horses zeal of zebras
team of horses
troop of horses
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