What an interesting image: a murder of crows flying north...

I'm no lexicographer, but I do enjoy learning about word definitions that
are new to me. This one is driving me crazy, though, because there's no
such reference in the online versions of Webster's and the OED, nor in my
Random House dictionary at home. Is "murder" of crows a specialized term
then? Avian jargon?


***************************************************
/|/| * The First World War, caused by the assignation *
| | | * of the Arch-Duck by a surf, ushered in a new *
| | | * error in the anals of human history. *
\|\| * *
>{}{}{}{}<++>8 * from The World According to Student *
/|/| * Bloopers, by Richard Lederer *
| | | ***************************************************
| | | illustrator of dragonfly: wish I knew
\|\| Lisa M. Smith <subplot at u.washington.edu>


On Mon, 22 Aug 1994, NESTLER, JAMES R. wrote:

> This murder (isn't that the proper name for a herd of crows?) is probably
> a bit north of the ones currently being discussed. We have about 250
> crows which fly due north over the Deception Pass area every evening.
> We've tried to follow them by car and boat, but lose them about 2 miles
> south of Anacortes.
>
> Jim Nestler
> Walla Walla College Marine Station
>
>
>