Both Uses

phalanx
in
The Fellowship of the Ring
(Auto-generated)

There were fountains of butterflies that flew glittering into the trees; there were pillars of coloured fires that rose and turned into eagles, or sailing ships, or a phalanx of flying swans; there was a red thunderstorm and a shower of yellow rain; there was a forest of silver spears that sprang suddenly into the air with a yell like an embattled army, and came down again into the Water with a hiss like a hundred hot snakes.†
Chpt 1.1
Once or twice the travellers heard the rush and whine of swan-wings, and looking up they saw a great phalanx streaming along the sky.†
Chpt 2.9 *

Definitions:

(1) (phalanx as in: a phalanx of riot police)
a group standing and moving together -- especially an ancient Greek military formation
(2) (phalanx in medicine)
medicine: any of the bones of the fingers or toes
(3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)