What Did You Call Them?

I have always been astounded by the way we have complicated the English language over time. I mean, how confusing it can be. Same words, same spelling, completely different meanings.

“They were too close to close the door.”

“I did not object to the object.”

I never thought we could mess up the names of different groups of animals as we have. I mean, it is a herd of cows, or a flock of birds, right?

Apparently not. Here are some names that someone, somewhere (maybe after a little too much to drink) has given to different groups of animals. Some will make you laugh, and some will leave you saying, "What the hell?"

I first got onto this while researching a story I was writing about wombats. At first, I thought this was some weird Australian thing. Did you know that a group of wombats is called a "wisdom"?

This name comes from how smart, clever, and resourceful they appeared in managing their surroundings. O.K., but wombats don’t do an awful lot and are not known for their advanced intelligence. Furthermore, they are mostly solitary animals. So, a group of wombats must have gotten lost somewhere along the trail.

Emus, which are unique to Australia and not known to form flocks, are also found on other borders. They are referred to as a "mob." They are mostly solitary birds. However, they gather in groups, or mobs, during migration seasons to find food. Mobs, although somewhat disorganised groups, can be up to 20 or more birds.

It isn’t just emus; other birds have been given manes deviating from the common flock. A group of cockatoos is called a “crackle.” They get this name from their loud screeches, especially when they gather in large groups. If we are going down this path, surely they should be known as a “screech” of cockatoos.

We also have a “parliament” of owls, so named because of their perceived wisdom. They look like a bunch of wise old men with long white furry eyebrows. This might make you think of a courtroom or parliament deciding the world's fate. Still, the latter idea probably doesn't reflect true wisdom.

Some names for groups of animals seem a little too obvious. A “prickle” of hedgehogs, a “dazzle” of zebras, a "tower" of giraffes, or a “kaleidoscope” of butterflies. Maybe the “lounge” of lizards also fits into this category. They do get together and just hang out on rocks, basking in the sun.

Have you ever heard of a “murder” of crows?

Did someone look at a group of crows and come to the conclusion – “Yes, that is definitely a murder all right." Maybe they look like a bunch of coroners or detectives in long dark coats gathering around a murder. Agreed, it is a sort of ominous sign when they all get together. It usually means something bad.

Aquatic animals are not exempt. We call a group of stingrays a “fever.” Why?

When stingrays gather, sometimes in the thousands during breeding season, the energy is wild and intense.

My all-time favourite has to be a group of octopuses. They are called a "consortium." However, octopuses are largely solitary creatures. Groups are very uncommon. As such, there is no official scientific name for a group. Other informal terms, like “tangle” or “rally,” make things even more complicated.

Soon, we will have names for other groups, maybe even groups of people.

How does a “trouble” of teenagers or a "fossil" of elderly people sound?

Till next time,

Calvin