Hands up who wanted to see the mummified bat? Well here it is, with a sewing thimble to give you an idea of the scale. He/she looks as if they are sleeping peacefully, the bones are so tiny and delicate, is that the pelvis, bottom left?
As it’s Halloween and we’ve covered the origin of the festival before, I’ll continue with a ghoulish themed post, below a bird I found in my mums garden, it was only when I set it up at home to take the photograph and I looked at it through the long lens that I could see maggoty things emerging from it, yuk, I really should wear my glass more often.
Tom was mystified with my little collection skin of bones, ‘Why Mum? Why?’ he asked. I can only think it goes back to my school days I loved ‘nature walks’ and collecting ‘things’ and at secondary school we had an art teacher with a fine collection of animal skulls for still-life drawing (or should it have been still-death?) I’m not sure what animal this one is from, but if you want to do some research, start here.
One of my favourite photographs by my favourite photographer, Murdo McCleod features a ravens skull and Roy Kean
And I mustn’t forget the frog or is it a toad? It can be best describes as desiccated, we found in a bucket of sand.
There I think that is every ‘body’, Oh no, I forgot, there’s the little moles bones way back on this blog. Hummm, oh dear, I can think of a couple more, but I think this is enough for one evening.
Fascinating! Happy Halloween! xx
See, today I waited until my breakfast had time to settle before I checked in. Next to Miss Sadie’s collection of buried Found Art and the Cowboy’s collection of well-rotted fish heads, I think this is perhaps the most comprehensive set I’ve seen.
Now I have to go to the other day job, which is really a night job, where I expect I’ll see lots of little goblins and ghoulies. I’ll try to think of something suitable to post before the witching hour.
PS. The frog appears to be executing a deep bow, one hand behind his back, the other swept dramatically across his heart. Assuming frogs’ hearts are on the same side as ours.
Talking of bats I’ve just come across this! xx
http://biscuitencounters.wordpress.com/2009/10/31/woooooooooo/
I had asked for the mummified bat and I’m glad I did. Great shots for Halloween.
I had a lovely delicate skull I’d found which I kept as a teenager but it freaked people out so I got rid of it. And a mummified chamaeleon which had been run over and was completely flat, so I put it in a friend’s Christmas card and posted it to her (she was the sort of friend who would find this cool, and I did warn her first). I wish I’d photographed both now
Oh, sigh…signing in late – again!
Was a little busy yesterday, being Halloween and all, and didn’t get in until late.
Not much bigger than a thimble then. How is it that when they’re flying around in the house bats look so huge?
I also had my hand up for the bat picture.
Thanks UHDD!
brilliant post, just like being at work – I work at a countryside visitor centre with these sorts of things on the nature table.
ps. I reckon it’s a rabbit skull, but I may be wrong!
Great post for Halloween!
This year we are celebrating The Day of the Dead (day after Halloween) instead. As it is a last minute thing this time it is just going to be The Day of Dead Pets. We have all their old photos on the table and some chocolate to attract their spirits. Probably Whiskas or Pedigree Chum would work better though. It will be lovely to talk about them all and remember happy times … just before we get our latest addition to the family. Two weeks to puppy day!
Love the bat skeleton! And how you thought to put it next to the thimble so we could see a good comparison. Actually, love the skull as well and how it reflects on the green table, as well.