The “terms of venery” were the words used for certain groupings. Originally they referred mostly to game animals and birds, including edible fish.
It was all fanciful, a sort of name game for, um, naming game. The fun eventually extended to groups of people… beggars, judges, merchants, etc. And even to different types of animal droppings.
But again, it was mostly a glossary of fun rather than function.
Almost all are obsolete today, though a few persist. A gaggle of geese, right? But you are more likely to encounter them in crossword puzzles than in the real world.
I have to admit, I do like “an exaltation of larks” which is the title of one published list of the terms.
The barrel eye fish are very weird looking. Their eyes are actually inside their heads! (See YouTube!)
The eyes also have a broad range of movement. They can shift from looking ahead to looking straight up to looking to either side without having to move their bodies. Or their necks, which is handy because they don’t have necks.
The evolutionary advantage is that they can see prey or predators swimming beside them, above them, below them… all at the same time.
The question is, wouldn’t a perfectly transparent eye be blind? I mean, we see because our sensitive cells intercept photons, right? But perfectly transparent would be defined by not affecting photons. So, deep-sea barreleye fish must not be deep-see. See?
Most likely the bones in Ben’s basement were from dissections done by a friend of his. "The most plausible explanation is not mass murder, but an anatomy school run by Benjamin Franklin’s young friend and protege, William Hewson. He had been a pupil of the most brilliant anatomist of the day, William Hunter, but the two fell out and Hewson started his own anatomy school – at the home of his mother-in-law Margaret Stephenson, just off the Strand, where Benjamin Franklin was also a lodger for 16 years. " — the Guardian 11 Aug 2003https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/usa.past
Boots at the Boar Premium Member about 4 years ago
A group of owls is called a flock: I don’t want to have to remember group names, especially owls, when I’ve never seen more than one at a time.
pearlsbs about 4 years ago
Mars sunset.
https://www.universetoday.com/120353/what-makes-mars-sunsets-different-from-earths/
Templo S.U.D. about 4 years ago
What was Franklin even doing with (as Jason Snake Lover would’ve done it) 1,201 bones?
I wonder what color are the sunrises/-sets of Mercury are like.
jimmjonzz Premium Member about 4 years ago
The “terms of venery” were the words used for certain groupings. Originally they referred mostly to game animals and birds, including edible fish.
It was all fanciful, a sort of name game for, um, naming game. The fun eventually extended to groups of people… beggars, judges, merchants, etc. And even to different types of animal droppings.But again, it was mostly a glossary of fun rather than function.
Almost all are obsolete today, though a few persist. A gaggle of geese, right? But you are more likely to encounter them in crossword puzzles than in the real world.
I have to admit, I do like “an exaltation of larks” which is the title of one published list of the terms.
jimmjonzz Premium Member about 4 years ago
The barrel eye fish are very weird looking. Their eyes are actually inside their heads! (See YouTube!)
The eyes also have a broad range of movement. They can shift from looking ahead to looking straight up to looking to either side without having to move their bodies. Or their necks, which is handy because they don’t have necks.
The evolutionary advantage is that they can see prey or predators swimming beside them, above them, below them… all at the same time.
flashdrive1988 about 4 years ago
1200 Bones = at least 6 people, minimum.
Bilan about 4 years ago
So, it true. There is a parliament that’s wise.
therese_callahan2002 about 4 years ago
My personal parliament of owls consists of stuffed ones, plastic ones, wooden ones, metal ones, and even ceramic ones.
Gent about 4 years ago
Well, it’s not that deep blue.
Gent about 4 years ago
I dunno about ya owl, but I never knew this one.
pbr50138 about 4 years ago
So…is a group in parliament called “owls”?
Gent about 4 years ago
And what are owl the people inside a parliament called?
James Wolfenstein about 4 years ago
Benjackmin “The Ripper” Franklin????? :D
J Short about 4 years ago
Ben was known to eat BBQ at the Grand Central Cafe in Texas.
https://austin.eater.com/2019/10/25/20930935/texas-chainsaw-massacre-gas-station-restaurants-barbecue-where-to-find-them
dv1093 about 4 years ago
Was Ben Franklin a serial killer?
Huckleberry Hiroshima about 4 years ago
Well, Ben, we do feel disappointed in you once again.
Take care, may the Ford be with you, and gesundheit.
Nala the Great about 4 years ago
Was he a serial killer or just a big eater?
Nala the Great about 4 years ago
And probably a lot wiser than our congress!
ncorgbl about 4 years ago
The red planet has blue sunrise and sunsets, pink hearts, yellow moons, orange stars, and green clovers.
Franklin threw some wild parties in London.
When asked about Brexit the UK’s parliament answers ’Who?"
Deep Sea Barrel eye fish are the mascot of the tRump Administration.
stamps about 4 years ago
And according to QAnon, Nancy Pelosi inherited that basement.
Christopher Peckham Premium Member about 4 years ago
BF must have been a cannibal he hated the Brits so much
paranormal about 4 years ago
So the UK is a bunch of owls?
ekke about 4 years ago
The question is, wouldn’t a perfectly transparent eye be blind? I mean, we see because our sensitive cells intercept photons, right? But perfectly transparent would be defined by not affecting photons. So, deep-sea barreleye fish must not be deep-see. See?
Stephen Gilberg about 4 years ago
I have to say, that barreleye illustration is unimpressive. Doesn’t look transparent at all.
ScottHolman about 4 years ago
whose bones were they? Ben Franklin was a cannibal?
Craig Westlake about 4 years ago
Historians now have a clearer idea of the cause of Ben’s portliness…
Craig Westlake about 4 years ago
It’s an evolutionary adaptation for Barreleye fish that transport tourists on dive tours…
listmom about 4 years ago
Most likely the bones in Ben’s basement were from dissections done by a friend of his. "The most plausible explanation is not mass murder, but an anatomy school run by Benjamin Franklin’s young friend and protege, William Hewson. He had been a pupil of the most brilliant anatomist of the day, William Hunter, but the two fell out and Hewson started his own anatomy school – at the home of his mother-in-law Margaret Stephenson, just off the Strand, where Benjamin Franklin was also a lodger for 16 years. " — the Guardian 11 Aug 2003https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/aug/11/usa.past