Eliza knew Cadfan, in a fit of jealousy, had tethered Angharad’s spirit to the Ruins of Maldwyn. No one would have her in the afterlife. She would remain his for all eternity. Determined to free her ancestor, Eliza stood before the crumbling stones, a dozen crows circling overhead, while she spoke the ancient words.

Did I grab your interest? Spooky enough?

How about… Eliza knew Cadfan, in a fit of jealousy, had tethered Angharad’s spirit to the Ruins of Maldwyn. No one would have her in the afterlife. She would remain his for all eternity. Determined to free her ancestor, Eliza stood before the crumbling stones, a murder of crows circling overhead, while she spoke the ancient words.

Curious Minds Want to Know

Writers have lots of questions. What if….? I wonder what…? Is there such a thing…? What would you call a…? Is there a better word for…? Would that word have more oomph in German? How can I make that paragraph grab the reader by the throat?—metaphorically speaking, of course.

In one of the Big Bang episodes, Sheldon Cooper acquired a bunch of cats which he informed his mother was called a “clowder” or “glare.” Sure beats “bunch,” doesn’t it?

That made me wonder what other strange names we attribute to groups of animals. Using unique terminology in our writing not only adds authenticity, but gives it greater depth. In Eliza’s story, the murder of crows calls forth shades of Edgar Allan Poe.

For Your Writing Pleasure

A congregation of alligators

A raft of Auks (or “colony” or “flock”)

A cete of badgers (badger home is a “sett”)

A cloud of bats (but “cauldron” is common also)

A sleuth of bears

A sute of bloodhounds

A wake of Buzzards

A peep of chickens (also “clutch” or “brood”)

A lap of Cod

A bed of clams

A quiver of cobras

A bask of crocodiles

A convocation or aerie of eagles

A leash of fox (or “skulk” because they skulk around when hunting)

A tower of giraffes (well, that makes sense!)

A cackle of hyenas (as in laughing like a hyena?)

A crash of rhinos (They do crash around, don’t they?)

Here are a few links to more lists.

https://itsrainingcatsandblogs.com/2020/06/01/collective-names-for-animals/

https://app.memrise.com/course/134203/learn-english-grammar/216/