Description
A flock of birds, even a skein of geese perhaps — but a cete of badgers, or a grist of bees? The collective nouns of animals and birds have long inspired and intrigued us. Many have their roots in medieval times, in particular applied to those creatures hunted by man, and subject to the etiquette of their proper group names. Author Steve Palin has beautifully illustrated and given the background to about fifty different animals and birds with interesting collective nouns — and listed 420 of them in his glossary. This elegant little book will appeal to all those with a fascination for the English language, those who want the answers for quizzes and crossword puzzles, and those with an interest in animals and birds. AUTHOR: Steve Palin was born in Liverpool and has been a teacher all his life, for 17 years of which he was a headteacher. He has been publishing his artwork for over 25 years, often combining a love of language with illustration. His previous books include A Dissimulation of Birds, A Menagerie of Animals, and The Songs of Birds. His artwork was displayed most recently in the National Exhibition of Wildlife Art in July 2012. He lives with his wife in a village near Wrexham. 50 colour illustrations
