In the Open HUNTING TERMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 November 1945, Page 6

In the Open HUNTING TERMS

(By I. W. T. Miiiuo) Most sports have their own jargon, an extraordinarily unlovely jargon in the case of many of them, but the old huntsmans’ language had a redeeming picturesqueness about it. One of the few books an affection for which survived even its being made a ‘‘set book” at school is Conan Doyle’s ‘‘Sir Nigel,” and there is in that a delightful passage on the subject between Nigel and the Knight of Dupplin. Sir John Buttesthorn. Very naively,*.the latter reveals that there was a good deal of what would now be called “snobbery” in such terms; he reproves Nigel for referring to “a herd of pigs,” since that was a term used by the peasantry, while a huntsman spoke of “a sounder of swine.” “For every collection of beasts of the forest and for every gathering of birds of the air, Sir John explains, “there is their own private name, so that none may be confused with another. I myself have pricked off eighty and six fir a wager at court." CURIOUS LORE Some of this curious lore he proceeds to impart to Nigel. He speaks of “a cete of badgers,” “a skull of foxes.” “a pride of lions,” “a singular of boars,” “a nye of pheasants,” "a gaggle of geese,” “a badling of ducks,” “a fall of woodcock,” “a wisp of snipe.” Many of them—“skulk” of foxes and “gaggle” of geese, for instance —are as appropriate as they are picturesque while a “pride” of lions and a “wisp” of snipe are pure poetry. I should like to know what terms they found appropriate to a flock of peacocks; something very vivid and colourful, I should imagine. Most of these terms seem to have died out, overseas, at anyrate. I have never heard a New Zealand shooter refer to a “gaggle” of Canadian geese, a “badling” of mallard, or a “nye” of pheasants. Some are forgotten, some, perhaps, laughed out of existence. A profane Fleet Street acquaintance of mine once continued the list, with intent to ridicule, adding such terms as “a giggle of spinsters,” “a babble of politicians,” “a frowst of lawyers,” and the like. RESPONSIVE HENS ! They respond when you give them Laymor Poultry Tonic daily . . . better all-round health, vigour, beauty of plumage . . . and MORE EGGS! That’s because Lamor is a scientific prescription TONIC containing all essential vitamins for maximum health and laying.—Advt.