Comments on: Murder of Crows, etc. http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/ Semper Ubi Sub Ubi Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:19:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: B http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-28303 B Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:58:27 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-28303 I studies environmental science with two ornithologists and they did call it a murder of crows. Additionally, Christian and Squiggy need to lay off Jim. If either of you had actually read the article, you would have seen that it supports what he said and that Westerfield obviously did not even read it! I studies environmental science with two ornithologists and they did call it a murder of crows. Additionally, Christian and Squiggy need to lay off Jim. If either of you had actually read the article, you would have seen that it supports what he said and that Westerfield obviously did not even read it!

]]> By: Christian http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-27535 Christian Fri, 25 Nov 2011 04:03:09 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-27535 Hey Jim, maybe you should read the article before commenting. How about ' a string of asses....' Hey Jim, maybe you should read the article before commenting.

How about ‘ a string of asses….’

]]> By: jb http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-27411 jb Mon, 21 Nov 2011 22:13:16 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-27411 it is because the have been seen hunting small game -I have seen them kill and eat an entire nest of young squirls and have seen a video of then killing a samil of young rabbits it is because the have been seen hunting small game -I have seen them kill and eat an entire nest of young squirls and have seen a video of then killing a samil of young rabbits

]]> By: Squiggy http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-21965 Squiggy Thu, 25 Aug 2011 18:03:26 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-21965 Jim: Your evidence being? Or are we just saying things like they're facts now? "Gosh, Jim didn't research his comment or he'd have seen that 'a murder of crows' is as old as language itself!" Jim: Your evidence being? Or are we just saying things like they’re facts now?

“Gosh, Jim didn’t research his comment or he’d have seen that ‘a murder of crows’ is as old as language itself!”

]]> By: Tyrskald http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-17070 Tyrskald Tue, 19 Apr 2011 02:31:06 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-17070 I've never heard of a Caucus of Crows, though certainly, I'm familiar with a Murder of them. I do like the explanation for Caucus, however. Ravens, I have seen are often named an "Unkindness." I propose a name for a collection of basset hounds, based loosely on one of their most famous anatomical featurs... I name a group of these cute and comical canines, a "Lobe of Basset Hounds." Thoughts? Email me at Tyrskald@aol.com Thanks! I’ve never heard of a Caucus of Crows, though certainly, I’m familiar with a Murder of them. I do like the explanation for Caucus, however.

Ravens, I have seen are often named an “Unkindness.”

I propose a name for a collection of basset hounds, based loosely on one of their most famous anatomical featurs… I name a group of these cute and comical canines, a “Lobe of Basset Hounds.”

Thoughts? Email me at Tyrskald@aol.com

Thanks!

]]> By: Hunt http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-17061 Hunt Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:53:59 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-17061 I have assumed that a Murder of Crows referred to their nest robbing. When a group of them move through an area in the spring they are very good at robbing baby birds from the nests. One or two distract while the other(s) get the babies. I have assumed that a Murder of Crows referred to their nest robbing. When a group of them move through an area in the spring they are very good at robbing baby birds from the nests. One or two distract while the other(s) get the babies.

]]> By: Mark http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-16364 Mark Tue, 05 Apr 2011 04:34:35 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-16364 How about a "flush of toilets" when refering to you know what? How about a “flush of toilets” when refering to you know what?

]]> By: Sean R http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-14492 Sean R Tue, 08 Mar 2011 01:03:41 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-14492 I always supposed that term hinted at the idea that if you kill someone and leave the body in some remote or hidden outdoors location, a "murder" of crows might reveal your secret. I always supposed that term hinted at the idea that if you kill someone and leave the body in some remote or hidden outdoors location, a “murder” of crows might reveal your secret.

]]> By: Jim http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-10789 Jim Mon, 03 Jan 2011 06:13:02 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-10789 Mr. Wewsterfield clearly hasn't researched his response above. If he did he would find that theterm Murder of crows originated in the 1400's. Nothing to do with any modern day book.................Have a "barrel of laughs", folks.. Mr. Wewsterfield clearly hasn’t researched his response above. If he did he would find that theterm Murder of crows originated in the 1400′s. Nothing to do with any modern day book……………..Have a “barrel of laughs”, folks..

]]> By: barton cole http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-9660 barton cole Mon, 20 Dec 2010 05:57:01 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-9660 Per the American Society of Crows and Ravens - or at least, per their policy of mutual support (as crows themselves are known to do), the correct term is a "Caucus of Crows." 1. Sounds like something a crow would say; 2. Rhymes with "raucous," and 3. Suggests a group with an agenda, perhaps secret. It's worthy of being a meme, so I promote its use where I can. I'm out on an island off the NW coast, where we don't have American crows, but rather Northwestern Crows <em>Corvus caurinus</em> - another name that sounds like someone asked a crow. Although crows are despised by some as nest-robbers, their alarm calls when predators threaten are well understood by other species; songbirds indeed benefit greatly by the crow's alert protection. Per the American Society of Crows and Ravens – or at least, per their policy of mutual support (as crows themselves are known to do), the correct term is a “Caucus of Crows.”
1. Sounds like something a crow would say;
2. Rhymes with “raucous,” and
3. Suggests a group with an agenda, perhaps secret.
It’s worthy of being a meme, so I promote its use where I can.
I’m out on an island off the NW coast, where we don’t have American crows, but rather Northwestern Crows Corvus caurinus – another name that sounds like someone asked a crow.
Although crows are despised by some as nest-robbers, their alarm calls when predators threaten are well understood by other species; songbirds indeed benefit greatly by the crow’s alert protection.

]]> By: Michael Westerfield http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-8388 Michael Westerfield Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:52:19 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-8388 The correct term for a group of crows is a flock. The term "Murder of Crows" is poetic at best and has only come into common usage since the book, "An Exaltation of Larks", listed it, and various authors thought it was a clever title for mystery books and movies. No ornithologist uses the term and most crow fanciers avoid it. Far from being murderous, crows are very family oriented, and frequently show behavior that might well be considered altruistic. Check the crows.net website for more information about crows. The correct term for a group of crows is a flock. The term “Murder of Crows” is poetic at best and has only come into common usage since the book, “An Exaltation of Larks”, listed it, and various authors thought it was a clever title for mystery books and movies. No ornithologist uses the term and most crow fanciers avoid it. Far from being murderous, crows are very family oriented, and frequently show behavior that might well be considered altruistic. Check the crows.net website for more information about crows.

]]> By: Javier http://www.word-detective.com/2009/02/22/murder-of-crows-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-8190 Javier Wed, 03 Nov 2010 17:16:24 +0000 http://www.word-detective.com/2008/07/27/murder-of-crows-etc/#comment-8190 I would like "a rage of comments" I would like “a rage of comments”

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