A Barrel of Monkeys

Featuring pets, farmyard animals, big cats, and wild beasts, this beautifully presented book is the perfect gift for animal lovers and all those with an interest in this quirky linguistic tradition.

We're all familiar with 'a flock of sheep', but what are the collective nouns for racehorses, pigs, zebras, or giraffes? Drawing on a range of sources, from fifteenth-century hunting terms to more recent inventions that have now entered the language, A Barrel of Monkeys collects over 100 examples of the most interesting collective nouns for animals. Each is illustrated with charming woodcuts by the renowned naturalist engraver of the eighteenth century, Thomas Bewick.

Some collective nouns describe a key characteristic of the animal in question: 'a shrewdness of apes', 'a busyness of ferrets'. Others are delightfully humorous: 'a piddle of puppies', 'a crash of rhinoceroses'.

Featuring pets, farmyard animals, big cats, and wild beasts, A Barrel of Monkeys is the perfect addition to the library of anyone fascinated by the whimsical world of animal group names.