>
> On another issue of language: I have noticed a tendency (which I find
> slightly irritating) to leave of the "-s" in pluralizing bird names on
> the model of "one deer" "several deer." So we often see in print "three
> curlew were noted at Ocean Shores Oct. 21".... or oftimes worse, "six
> Herring Gull were at Green Lake for the Xmas count"... What do you all
> think? Are there certain bird names for which this archaic irregular
> unmarked plural form is ok, or even preferred? If so when to do it and
> when not to do it? Is there a rule we can follow?
>
> Gene Hunn.
>

there was a similar thread on alt.usage.english. The general rule seems
to be compound nouns don't necassarily take the plural form of the simple
nouns that make it. e.g. it is still cloverleafs and not cloverleaves .

I find *(>1) killdeers better than killdeer. Personally, i would use the
collective noun a la an exaltation of * larks if i knew it.

Manoj