60 
MEMOIR OF JOHN HUNTER. 
the colour of the Pigmentum nigrum of tlie eye in 
different animals ; wliilst others of a more professional 
character at the same time appeared, both in the 
work last noticed, and also in the Philosophical 
Transactions. In 1787 the Koval Society conferred 
upon him its Copleyan Medal, probably not more on 
account of the intrinsic value of his communications 
than on account of his amazing assiduity and success. 
It must be evident, that the very multiplicity of 
these productions, which it is necessary to enume- 
rate, precludes the possibility of giving any thing 
like a detailed account of them. To convey some 
impression, however, though most inadequate, of 
these labours of Mr Hunter, we shall select one 
paper, and, in as few words as possible, give an ac- 
count of it. We take up that on the Structure and 
Economy of Whales. After some prefatory remarks 
on the extreme rarity of opportunities for prosecut- 
ing the investigation, as they inhabit distant seas, 
and cannot be brought to us alive, he remarks, “ 1 
have availed myself as much as possible of all the 
accidental opportunities that have occurred ; and 
anxious to get more extensive information, 1 engaged 
a surgeon, at considerable expense, to make a voy- 
Sge to Greenland, and furnished him with such neces- 
saries as I thought might be requisite for examining 
and preserving the most interesting parts, and with 
instructions for making general observations; but the 
only return I received was a piece of a whale’s skin, 
with some small animals sticking to it.” Mr Hun- 
