'A murder of crows', 'a charm of goldfinches', 'an ostentation of
peacocks': collective nouns for British birds have existed since at
least the mid fifteenth century. They are thought to originate in
texts about hunting, but have since evolved into evocative, witty
and literary expressions, each striving to capture the very essence
of the animal they describe. Some are portentous - 'a conspiracy of
ravens' perfectly evokes this sinister bird - others convey sound,
such as 'a murmuration of starlings' or 'a chattering of choughs'.
Yet more reflect with a flourish the beauty of the bird itself:
what could be more celebratory than 'a crown of kingfishers', or
'an exaltation of larks'? The best of these imaginative expressions
are collected here, illustrated with charming woodcuts by Thomas
Bewick, the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century.
Featuring songbirds, aquatic birds, birds of prey and garden
favourites, this beautifully presented book will delight both
bird-lovers and word-lovers in equal measure.
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