vii ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS 83 



take the different branches of biology which are illustrated 

 in it in some kind of order, beginning with the part which 

 relates to life in a normal condition. Hunter's collection 

 and observations were not limited to the animal kingdom. 

 Wherever any physiological process could be illustrated by 

 vegetable life, vegetables were pressed into the service, as may 

 be seen in the physiological gallery, and by the Memoranda 

 on Vegetation, left by him in MS. and printed by the College 

 in 1860. In his collection were many portions of various 

 recent plants, and a series, amounting to 184 in number, 

 of fossil woods, fruits, and impressions of stems and leaves. 

 These specimens are arranged in the large wall-case on the right- 

 hand side (on going in) of the entrance door of the first or 

 western hall. With them are some additions made in former 

 years, but since the great development of the parts of the 

 museum more essential to the general purposes of the institu- 

 tion, it has been necessary to restrict the growth of such branches 

 as are more fully and advantageously illustrated elsewhere. 



The zoology of invertebrate animals largely attracted 

 Hunter's attention. Many of the treasures collected in the 

 famous voyages of Captain Cook came into his possession 

 through his friend, Sir Joseph Banks. He purchased, when- 

 ever opportunity offered, as at the sale of Mr. Ellis's famous 

 collection of corals and zoophytes. In 1786, at the sale of 

 the Duchess of Portland's museum, he bought for fifteen 

 guineas the fine Pentacrinus, now in the museum, of which 

 very few examples had then been found. Of insects, especially 

 Lepidoptera, he had a large series. Of fossil invertebrates, as 

 many as 2092 specimens are now recorded in the catalogue 

 as Hunterian. The series of fossil cephalopods is remarkably 

 rich. 



Such invertebrate animals as are dissected, or illustrate 

 any special anatomical fact, are arranged in the so-called 

 physiological series in the gallery, to be described presently, 

 but beyond these there remained a vast number of specimens 

 only showing external form, which by selection and arrange- 

 ment have been lately formed into a special zoological 

 collection, intended to introduce the student to a general 

 knowledge of the principal forms of animal life, and to the 



