When “bird” is not the word, this book tells you what is. A murder of crows, a charm of goldfinch, a huddle of penguins—groupings of birds are more than just a “flock.” Collective nouns for specific types of birds range from fascinating to funny, and this adorable book is your guide to the best of them. Discover the surprising number of different terms, and learn their true meanings—as well as the history behind them. Did C.S. Lewis really coin the phrase, “a parliament of owls”? Find out in this colorfully designed conversation-starter. The spectacular full-color photography that accompanies each entertaining tidbit further enhances the collectability of An Asylum of Loons. The book is destined to be a popular gift for bird lovers, so grab one for yourself and give a copy to the birders in your life, too!

Many love a good quiz and fantasize about winning Millionaire. But even if it’s only the local pub quiz evening, don’t we often wish that we could do better? This book aims to improve your ability by presenting typical quiz information in a concise and easy-to-learn format.

This encyclopaedic account of animals in Shakespeare's plays and poems, provides readers with a much-needed resource by which to navigate the recent outpouring of critical and historical work on the topic. This dictionary extends its coverage to include insects, fish and mythic creatures, as well as the places, practices and lore pertaining to all animal-oriented experiences of early modern life. It emphasizes the role of animality in defining character, and is attentive to the instabilities of the human-animal boundary as they were theatrically represented, exploited and interrogated, but it is also concerned with the material presence of animals on stage and in everyday life in Shakespeare's world. The volume is a new tool for instructors, but is also a resource for critics and scholars in the many disciplines engaged with animal studies, posthumanist theory, ecostudies and cultural studies.