58 
MEMOIR OF JOHN HCNTER. 
Dr \\ illiam Hunter. This afforded Iiis brother an 
opportunity of examining the structure of tliat ani- 
mal. After this time two other elepliants died in the 
Queen’s Menagerie, and both of them came under 
Mr Hunter’s examination. 
In 1774, he published in tlie Philosophical Trans- 
actions an account ot certain receptacles of air in 
birds, which communicate witli the lungs, and are 
lodged both in the soft parts and in the hollow bones 
of these animals. He also published this year a 
paper on the Gillaroo Trout, commonly called in 
Ireland the Gizzard-trout. 
In 1 775, several animals of that species called the 
Gymnotus electricus o{ Surinam having been brought 
alive to this country, excited the greatest curiosity 
by their electrical properties. Mr Walsh being de- 
sirous of pursuing his investigations in animal elec- 
tricity, made a number of experiuients on the living 
animals ; and to give bis friend Mr Hunter an op- 
portunity of examining them, he purchased those 
that died. An anatomical account of their electrical 
organs was drawn up by Mr Hunter, and published 
in the Philosophical Iransactions. In the same vo- 
lume, there is another pnper by him, containing an 
account of his experiments on animals and vegetables, 
respecting their power of producing heat. 
In 1 <76, he read the first of the Croonian Lec- 
tures delivered by him, choosing Muscular Action 
foi Ills subject, and jirosecuting it through a series 
