The Complete Art of the Gentleman is found in his knowledge of a great many things, and ignorance in the small things often leads others to believe that he is ignorant of the greater things as well. One might be forgiven for not knowing the secret workings of a guildsman at his Craft, but would be shunned by polite company when he knows not the proper term for a common group: such as a "murder of crows", or a "fighting of beggars".
A gentleman should be cultured, educated, and literate. This is not just to say that he understands the habits and customs of the Court, but he should put them into practice in his daily life, even when doing so would be difficult or inconvenient. Not only should he have the capacity to read and write (in both words and numbers), but should have an extensive memory of the Great Works of Literature.
The true mark of a great gentleman is that of a traveler. It is not sufficient that you are acquainted with the ways and paths of your own city (of which is absolutely essential), nor is it enough to have visited some of the hamlets around and about (which is also greatly beneficial). A True Gentleman should have not only walked the streets of his own city, but those of cities beyond his own domain. While the merchant or the sailor may have been to scores of harbors, and even visited dozens of cities in far kingdoms, this does not make him a gentleman, any more than an old train horse could be a gentleman.
Only through reflection on the differences (as well as the similarities) of places wildly separated by not only space but by culture (and even language) is a gentleman formed.
On Groups of Beasts and Others
Insects & Crawlies
a swarm of insects
a colony of ants
a cloud of gnats
a flophouse of chiggers
a plague of locusts
a walk of snails
Birds
a brood of chickens
a sedge of cranes
a convocation of eagles
a murder of crows
a mob of emus
a cast of falcons
a parliament of owls
a gaggle of geese
a cast or kettle of hawks
a song of larks
a watch of nightingales
a conspiracy of ravens
an unkindness of ravens
a murmuring of starlings
an eclipse of pigeons
an ostentation of peacocks
a flamboyance of flamingos
a venue of vultures
Fish & Swimming Creatures
a school of fish
a shool of bass
a pod of dolphins
a bed of clams
a troubling of goldfish
an aggregation of manatees
a a hover of trout
a pod of whales
a smack of jellyfish
Reptiles
a float or bask of crocodiles
an army of frogs
a knot of toads
a bale of turtles
a rhumba of rattlesnakes
Mammals
a flock of (domesticated animals)
a kine/drove of cattle
a cauldron of bats
a sounder of boars
an obstinacy of buffalo
a caravan of camels
a coalition of cheetahs
a parade of elephants
a business of ferrets
a drift of hogs
a mute of hounds
a sleuth/sloth of bears
a cackle of hyenas
a shadow of jaguars
a skulk of foxes
a shrewdness of apes
a leap of leopards
a pride of lions
a barrel of monkeys
a prickle of porcupines
a crash of rhinos
a scurry of squirrels
a stench of skunks
an ambush of tigers
a bloat/raft of hippopotami
a colony/warren of rabbits
a congress of baboons
a destruction of wild cats
a glairing of cats
a clowder/clutter of cats
a litter of puppies
a kindle of kittens
a zeal of zebras
People
a herd of harlots
a fighting of beggars
a gaggle of women
a goggle of men
an impatience of wives
a threatening of courtiers
a tabernacle of bakers
a cacophony of blacksmiths
a drunkship of cobblers
an industry of villains
a giggle of girls
a stench of hermits
a blight of barbarians
a band of bards
a quarom of clerics
a choir of clerics
a priesthood of clerics
a circle of druids
grove of druids
a squad of fighters
an abbey of monks
a cenobium of monks
an order of paladins
a ring of boxers
a forest of rangers
a lodge of rangers
a guild of rouges
a gallery of rouges
a den of thieves
a gang of thieves
a cabal of sorcerers
an incantation of warlocks
a coven of witches
a conclave of wizards
a wrath of wizards
Fantastic Creatures
a racket of banshees
a legion of demons
a thunder of dragons
a tumor of trolls
a pleasure of pixies
a majesty of titans
a percussion of giants
a fraid/falsehood of ghosts
a snarl of minotaurs
a looming of phantoms
a blessing of unicorns
a crypt of vampires
On Knowledge of the Nobility
On the Stars
On Calligraphy
On Geography
On History
On Geometry
On Theatre
On Art
The details of drawing and lining, and painting
On Music
On Heraldry
On Arms & Armor
On War
On Exercise of the Body
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