QUAINT SPORTING TERMS

Hokitika Guardian, 1 October 1929, Page 2

QUAINT SPORTING TERMS

A correspondent. of the Auckland “Star” Avrote in asking the proper names for the male and female swan. It looked 'simple enough, but it was surprising the number of people avlio Avere asked and had no idea there Aveve special names for the tAyoi swan sexes, .similar to cock and hen among poultry. Even people aa'cll up in natural history did not knoAV. Eventually the question Avas solved by Mr G. G. Kelly, the Avell-known rifleshot and sportsman. He says the proper name for the male SAvan is “cob,” and for the female “pen.” Talking about sporting terms, Mr Kelly pointed out that there Avere manyold-fashioned . names that would be unfamiliar to anyone outside sporting circles. Some of the terms Avere quite picturesque. For instance, the proper name for a gathering of starlings Avas “a murmuration of starlings.” Other terms Avliich Avere perhaps not generally knoAvn Avere gaggle of geese, nye of pheasants, huddling, of ducks, skulk of foxes, sounder of SAvine, pride of lions, sege of, herons, spring of teal., covert of coots, sord of millard, bevy of quail or larks, covey of partridges, pack of grouse, congregation of plover. Avalk of snipe (a lot on the beach) and Avhisip of snipe (a lot in flight). Non-sporting people Avould generally refer to the above under such general terms as “flock” or “herd,” but the old terms,, many of them of great, antiquity, have survived to this day.