Since the dawn of mankind, humans have invented a huge range of words to describe groups  of everything that they come across in their environment.  Trees for example: forest, copse, spinney, wood, thicket, grove, orchard, plantation, clump to name a few that you will know.  

When it comes to animals however, these names are far less commonly used. Shakespeare, perhaps our greatest wordsmith knew, and enjoyed a considerable vocabulary.

 

Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,
 Hound or spaniel, brach, or ⌜lym,⌝
 Bobtail ⟨tike,⟩ or ⟨trundle-tail,⟩

KING LEAR Act 3 Sc 6

But how many do we know? Many collective terms for animals and birds are in danger of becoming as extinct as the creatures themselves. The Collective Detective series celebrates just some of the wonderful words we have at our disposal. Have fun learning what they are, and help us to keep them alive.