Solution to 4: Buying Christmas Gifts for a Group

Each paragraph contains a number and a keyword. The keyword in each paragraph refers to a term of venery (collective noun term), as hinted in the title.

    5 - wisdom (group of wombats)
    1 - squabble (group of seagulls)
    2 (couple) - clutch (group of chickens)
    3 - dazzle (group of zebras)
    2 (pairing) - tower(ing) (group of giraffes)
    1 (only) - mischief (group of rats)
    4 - descent (group of woodpeckers)

Taking the number and using that to index the animals of each keyword, the answer is "ASHBIRD".


ASHBIRD