xlii Proceedings of Royal Society of Edinburgh. 
the anatomy of the fish, and more particularly with the skeleton 
and its variations. Accordingly, at this time he drew up 
an elaborate account of the skeleton of the herring, detailing 
every hone individually and in relation to its neighbours — 
the whole illustrated by seven plates, for he had a facile 
and accurate pencil. The amount of patient and monotonous 
work in this treatise is great, and must with his other labours have 
taxed the delicate frame of Mr Matthews to a dangerous extent — 
careful as he was to husband his energies — solely for the advance- 
ment of science. The skull, vertebrae, fins, and other parts are 
minutely described and figured, and the more important differences 
occurring in the twaite and the allis shad, the pilchard and the 
sprat, are mentioned. This investigation alone would have entitled 
Mr Matthews — as a skilful comparative anatomist — to the respect 
of every zoologist. 
This year (1887) was his most prolific one, for in addition to the 
foregoing laborious papers he produced two others. The first con- 
sisted of a report on the examination of 400 stomachs of whiting, 
the contents of which were carefully tabulated. His observations 
led him to believe that the whiting fed for the most part on small 
fishes and crustaceans, thus differing to some extent from the cod 
and haddock, both of which had a more varied dietary. The 
second paper gave an account of the nest, eggs, and newly-hatched 
larvae of the Ballan Wrasse (Labrus maculatus) from Broadford in 
Skye. Mr Matthews was thus the first observer who recorded this 
feature in our country. 
The efforts of 1887 just recorded, and of the previous years — when 
he several times lectured for Professor Ewart, as well as conducted 
the class of Practical Zoology — proved too severe a strain, and he had 
to retire to Springhill, his quiet walks amidst the beautiful gardens 
and grounds of which had formerly restored a measure of health. 
There, as his brother-in-law, Dr Ogston, tells us, he lived amongst his 
specimens and aquaria — “ converting his rooms into extemporised 
workshops and laboratories, where his investigations were carried 
on. As his strength waned, these grew more intermittent, but even 
to the latest hour of consciousness he remained surrounded by his 
plants and animals, and showed his interest in them.” A journey to 
London to attend the funeral of his uncle, Dr Matthews Duncan, 
