404 ENGLISH BIRD LIFE 



dignity, is said to have been introduced into Eng- 

 land from Cyprus by Richard the First. The two 

 species may be at once distinguished by the bilL 

 In the Whooper the lower part of the bill is black 

 and the base yellow. In the Mute Swan the base 

 is black and the lower part deep-orange. 



From the earliest ages wild fowl have been pur- 

 sued in Great Britain, not onlv for sport, but as a 

 means of livelihood. The old-time fowlers were 

 naturalists as well, and they appear to have coined 

 a variety of terms to express gatherings of birds, 

 some of which are now obsolete. As most of these 

 set forth the character and general appearance of 

 the groups with no little accuracy, even if a small 

 number are now unintelligible, it is well to rescue 

 as many as possible from oblivion. 



Thus we have — 



A herd, bank or troop of Swans. 



A skein or gaggle of Geese. 



A plump, sord, suke, badelving or paddling of 

 Mallard. 



A squad, knob, sprig, knot, coil, spring or string 

 of Teal. 



A bunch of \\"idgeon. 



A dopping of Sheld-ducks. 



A rush of Pochards. 



A wisp or walk of Snipe. 



A fall of Woodcock (probably in allusion to their 

 sudden descent on migration). 



A covert, team or fleet of Coots. 



A trip of Dotterel. 



A stand, wing, flight or congregation of Plover. 



