The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-23
GRAMMAR FOR sPoRrssIEN.
The Correct Plural Form. of species
seldom Found Alone.

FROM che London Globe.
From tho earliest ages sport has had its
own technical vocabulary. and even to-
day the sportsman SIN finds IL convenient
10 speak by the card II is indeed
scarcely too much TO say chat skill IN
woodcraft Is pretty generally estimated
by the orthodoxy OF the phrase in which
Il IS expressed. or course. the majority
OF such phrases are 10 hp regarded as sur
vivals from the time OF the old forest
laws; and we are told In Dame Juiiana
Berners's famous "Booke OF 81. Adams"
published over 40 years ago that strict
attention 70 these niceies better dlstln-
guishes "gentylmen from ungentylmen"
than regard 70 the mere rules Of grammar
This lady was az least nominally respon-
sible for three treatises on the sports OF
hunting. hawking ard fishing: and one
OF che most curious portions Of her work
Is that in which she lays down the law
in respect OF tho correct way OF speaking
OF the 'oompanys OF beastes and fowlesa
From this Il appears that the ancient
hunter who aspired 90 the title OF "Een,vl-
man" must be word perfect IN his nouns
or multitude He was not expected 10 be
able 20 write them down: that demand
Indeed, would have weeded many "A ael1
Of knights and courtly danes. Bus from
bury" Of comics 10 a pride" Of lions the
sporting gallant should have-or. al least
betray-no misEiving as TO the character
istie word to be employed Many u these
serms are not only graphic. BIT pic-
iuresque, and obviously. owe their origin
20 some observed habit or way Of NE III
the animal referred to. Others are more
artificial or perhaps seem so By reason OF
our inability 10 account FOR them AZ
any rate. many modern writers on spors
and woodcruft profess allegiance 20 the
old Technology; and we may s,fu mote
the distinction between a 'skulk'' OF foxes
and pack of wolves Most beasts OF
the chase. and some others. were thus
specialized In groups. A number OF oxen
constituted a drove" OF deer. a herd ),
excepting the rocbuck. COMPANY %
which was entitled 90 be called a 'sbovv
pack" OF hounds was formerly a
mute" group Of bears formed a
'sleuth." and OF leoparis a "lepe" A
flock OF goats became TRIBE and Of
monkeys troop" while farmers herd
OF swine was drift and a company OF
wild bears a "aOundSr."
Onr everyday words "hrs1." ami
exclusively reserved FOR grevhounds
while spaniels were always spoken OF ~
couples" The former terms are nov,
generally applied only 10 game prop.-
while couple. or pair. ranges over a rnurh
wider field. There Is no question nhout =
brace" OF birds" phessants or haros
and we may leKitimately bring home 4
brace OF trout In our fishing creel Near
tho old Kings Bench Prison q Tavern
formerly iourlshcd under tho sign 81
THE Brace" though the technical vslis
ity Of the name was only apparent 10
;hose who knew that the house was kent
hy two hroihers named Partridge. VIII,
managed TO feather their nest very warm
iy II was one OF these Partridge who
was told by Foote the comedian ina,
judging by the length OF his bin bis
name ought 10 have been Woodcock. Tho
term "nide" as applied TO a number OF
pheasants Is still IN use, and we are also
correct in recalling the old phrase n
muster" OF Deacocks. But the ancient
hawking world seems 70 have exercised
st least verbal jurisdiction over birds
both large aud small. flight OF larks
was called aT~exalting" the former WORD
beng only technically applied 20 pigeon.
and swallows. We read OF a parcel" Of
cranes. As II they were 30 much ner-
chandlas: but a watch OF nightinrniaa
a charm Of goldhnches ard 'ciatter-
ing of choughs are much more express
i've terms. Bot why "tyrrndls'f OF mag
pias7 There was, according 10 Ovid, a