Things Organized Neatly

FW Bond (died 5 May 1942); Collection of National Media Museum

“Frederick Willam Bond was photographer at the Zoological Society of London. Amongst more conventional photographs of the inhabitants of London Zoo, he also photographed objects retrieved from an ostrich’s stomach after its death. Details of what it swallowed are written on the back of the print.

Somehow, during its lifetime, the poor bird managed to ingest a lace handkerchief, a buttoned glove, a length of rope, a plain handkerchief (probably a man’s), assorted copper coins, metal tacks, staples and hooks, and a four-inch nail - a step too far, and the cause of death.”