Louis Agassiz; his life and work

Front matter

een nen ne i t 7 i fg i E

LEADERS IN SCIENCE SERIES.

I2MO, FULLY ILLUSTRATED. EACH, $1.50

Chapter II

SCHOOL DAYS . : “ . . 3 . . 7 Agassiz the Elder—Early College Life—College at Bienne —Vacation Days—Auguste Agassiz—Making Collections— Forming a Library—Village Festivals—Taste for Natural Science—A Manifesto—Agassiz Outlines His Career—Study of Fishes—Rambles in the Fields—First Lectures on

Zodlogy.

Glacial Studies—New reece of Ree eee, tion of Prince Canino—An Opening in America—Plans for the American Trip—The Monthyon Prize—Visit to Paris— Arrival in Boston—First Lectures—American Scientists— Impressions of America—Marine Studies—The Home in East Boston.

Chapter XIII

The Scientific School at Aces Professorship Tendered—The Agassiz Household—Death of Mrs, Agassiz— The Museum of Comparative Zodlogy—Agassiz and the Coast Survey—Trip to Lake Superior—Second Marriage—Expedition to the Florida Reef—Acceptance of a Professorship in the Charleston Medical College—I] Health—Return to Cambridge.

PAGE oo

XIV Contents.

AGASSIZ IN BRAZIL

AROUND PARA.

UP

Amazon Life—The Natives—The Four-Eyed Fish—New Discoveries of Fishes—Forest Fishes—Tropical Scenery—A Canoe Voyage—Visit to a Forest Home—Indian Houses in the Submerged Forest—Opinions of the Natives Regarding Agassiz.

Chapter XVII. The Rio Negro

Interest of Dom Pedro—Wooding up a Rio Negro Steamer —At Teffé—Fishes That Carry Young in Their Mouths— Collecting Plantsat Fonte Béa—Laboratory at Teffé— Remarkable Family of Fishes—The Studis—Distribution of Fishes—Routine Work—Floating Islands—Numerous New Species of Fishes,

PAGE

. 106

. 118

. 125 eee

THE CRUISE OF THE

ON

AT

Contents. XV

Chapter XVIII. Page

“ BIBB” : : . Tay

Return from Brazil—Renewed Work at the Museum—Lectures in New York—The Resolution of Bancroft—The Coast Survey and Science—Appointment to Cornell University—Report to the Legislature—The Cruise of the Bidd— Address on Humboldt.

CHAPTER XIX, THE “ HASSLER” 5 : : : , t57

Invitation to Go around the Horn—The Party—In the Gulf Weed—A Singular Discovery—Inhabitants of the Gulf Weed—Nest of a Fish—Defining a Species by its Skin— Off the Rio de la Plata—Discovery of Tertiary Fossils— Living Crinoids—Glaciers of Patagonia—Among the Fuegians—Discoveries at Lota—Reception in San Francisco.

CHAPTER XxX.

PENIKESE . : 4 : ‘ ; : OF

Growth of a New Idea—John Anderson’s Gift—A Patron of Science— Realisation of Agassiz’s Dream — Whittier’s “Prayer of Agassiz”—A Distinguished Corps of Teachers —Sayings of the Great Teacher at Penikese—Last Days.

CHAPTER XXI.. RELIGIOUS BELIEF . 2 . te . . - 179

Friendship for Darwin—Opposition to His Theories—Letter to Dr. Wilder—Strong Religious Belief—Agassiz on Evolution—Last Literary Work in Opposition to Darwin’s Theory—A Definition of Classification—Evidences of Religious Thoughts— Denounced as an Atheist—The Lectures at the Academy of Music.

xvi Contents.

Chapter XXII

PAGE THE AGASSIZ ASSOCIATION . . ° . - 194 Agassiz the Teacher—Effect on American Science—Important Positions Held by Pupils—Methods of Study—The Disciple of Outdoor Studies—Methods of Teaching—The Agassiz Association— Work Accomplished.

Chapter XXIII

AGASSIZ AND HIS WORKS : a : - - 202 Work on the Spix Collection of Fishes— Ox Fresh- Water Fishes — Sur les Moules de Mollusques Vivans et Fossiles—Etudes sur les Glaciers—The Nomenclator LZoblogicus—Contributions to the Natural History of the United States— The Structure of Animal Life, etc., etc.

Chapter XXIV

The Effect of His Death—The Memorial and Resolutions of the California Academy of Sciences: Addresses of Davidson, Gilman, Le Conte, Stearns, Stebbins, Scott, Edwards—Action of the Smithsonian Institution: Addresses of ex-President Garfield and Dr. Parker—Memorial of the Boston Natural History Society; Address by Rey. RoC; Waterson,

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LOUIS AGASSIZ. . <> i 287

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE PORTRAIT OF LOUIS AGASSIZ—From Ballard’s The

Three Kingdoms” . 2 ms . Frontispiece AGASSIZ HELPING HIS LITTLE BROTHER ACROSS A

CRACK IN THE ICE. 4 : : ; I AGASSIZ’S FIRST AQUARIUM . : é , : 4 AGASSIZ AT NINETEEN . ; : , : » «18 THE FISHING JAGUAR. : ; ; ; P3523 THE HOUSE ON THE GLACIER : e- YO DESCENT OF AGASSIZ INTO THE HEART OF A

GLACIER . : : : 3 : 5 76 AGASSIZ ON THE PINNACLE OF THE JUNGFRAU. 80 A GAPO, OR FLOODED FOREST (BRAZIL) eects VEGETATION ON THE SHORES OF THE LOWER

AMAZON—MIRITI PALMS . 5 : : : 96 MOUTH OF THE RIVER JAVARI (A TRIBUTARY ON

THE RIGHT OF THE AMAZON) ; . 106 EGARITEA BOAT OF THE UPPER AMAZON. . “138

COMBAT OF THE JAGUAR AND GREAT ANT-EATER. 126 FUNERAL VASE OF THE MANAO INDIANS q » L130 VEGETATION OF THE CANAL DES BREVES ; . 130

BURIAL-PLACE OF MANAO INDIANS t f ‘ 136 XVii

XVvili Tllustrations.

A MESSAYA INDIAN AND HIS GOD BUEQUE . . 146 INDIAN SHOOTING WITH BLOW-GUN ; : «. £48 VILLAGE OF MOROMOROTE, ON THE RIGHT BANK

OF THE AMAZON. , ¢ ; : SSE A NEST OF FISHES ; : ‘ : : LOS VEGETATION ON THE SHORES OF THE JANDIATUBA

(VALLEY OF THE AMAZON) . ; ; . 178 MOUTH OF THE RIVER NAPO (A TRIBUTARY OF THE

AMAZON) . ; ; : : ; ; . 194 FISHES OF THE UCAYALI AMAZON AND OF THE

LAKES BORDERING ITS SHORES ; ; - 202 A MONSTER OF THE AMAZON - ~ e - 204 SOME CURIOUS AMAZON FISHES - : . s) 220 MATAMATA TURTLE : 7 - 4 : » 2kh2

STUDY OF THE MATAMATA TURTLE: SHELL; HEAD, FRONT VIEW; FOOT, BACK VIEW. . 214 MOUTH OF THE RIVER NANAY (A TRIBUTARY OF THE AMAZON) . : ; : 2 : at

AGASSIZ HELPING HIS LITTLE BROTHER ACROSS A CRACK IN THE ICE.

LOUIS AGASSIZ.

Chapter 1. The Boy Agassiz

Birthplace of Agassiz—Boyhood Pastimes—Early Love for Nature— Collections—First Collection of Fishes—The Aquarium—Manly Traits—Inventive and Imitative Faculties—Descendant of a Line of Clergymen—An Ancient Family—Influence of His Mother.

EAN Louis Rudolphe Agassiz was born May 28, 1807, in the little village of Motier. by the borders of Lake Morat— a placid sheet of water nestled among the foothills of the Bermese Alps.

The locality of his birth was. one of sharp contrast: the lake clear and unruffled, the rich green slopes of the hills, the vineyards with their grape-laden vines, gardens of flowers, valleys deep in varied colours, while not far

I distant the crests of mighty mountains pierced the sky, gleaming with the snows of eternal winter, telling of the avalanche, crevasse, and ancient rivers of ice.

From such a land of varied attractions sprang the ancestry,of the greatest science teacher of modern times. ‘I am Swiss,’he once said, ‘and have been for generations,” and it is believed that for three hundred years at least the Agassiz family lived in Switzerland, being originally Burgundian Huguenots, who left France during the acts of injustice and persecution which characterised the reign of Louis XIV.

Louis Rudolphe Agassiz, father of the naturalist, was the sixth clergyman in direct line in his family ; a man of strong personality and lovable character. He married Rose Mayor, who lived in the little village of Cudrefin, one of the most attractive places on the borders of Lake Neuchatel. The Mayors were a sturdy and intellectual race, many being professional men of literary and scholastic tastes. The father of Rose Mayor was a physician, while her brother, Mathias Mayor, was a distinguished surgeon and physician of Lausanne.

The true genius is born, and Louis Agassiz was no exception to the rule. From his very earliest years he evinced a taste for nature and natural objects,—a love that was fostered and encouraged by a devoted mother who, perhaps by intuition, recognised the germ that was to develope and produce such notable results in later years. For the first ten years of his life Agassiz received all his instruction from his parents, His active mind was not overcrowded,

The Boy Agassiz. 3 eee eee Meet” and we find him roaming the fields with his companions, wooing the secrets of nature from the flowers and insects; a merry lad, brave, courageous, earnest and thoughtful. His first collection was a series of fishes representing all the different varieties which he and his companions could find in the vicinity of the village. While other boys collected inanimate objects he showed a strong preference for animal life, and one of his chief delights was the possession of various birds, mice, rabbits, indeed every available creature that he could keep and rear.

As a fisherman he was particularly successful, often disregarding the appliances of his comrades, catching the finny victims in the nooks and corners to which he knew they resorted. Inthe yard of the Agassiz home a stone basin had been built to receive the water of a spring, and in this the young naturalist placed his finny prizes and watched and studied their habits, taking the first steps in the direction in which in later years he became so justly celebrated.

If any one trait impresses the reader at this period of his life it is his habit of observation, so essential to the successful naturalist. The boy did not confine his investigations to natural history alone, but made incursions into various fields, often displaying remarkable mechanical skill. It was the custom in those days, as it isnow in some of the cantons of Switzerland, for the various artisans—tailors, carpenters, coopers and others, to travel about the country, and in the course of the year many stopped at the Agassiz parsonage. Young Agassiz carefully observed their methods of work, and after a visit from

4 Louis Agasst2.

the cobbler astonished his sister by presenting her dolls with carefully-made foot-gear. He made a miniature water-tight barrel after watching the cooper in his father’s vineyard, and could have made himself a suit of clothes had it been required, so well did he profit by the stay of the tailor at the homestead.

Such habits did not detract from the manly quali- ‘ties that constituted a prominent feature in his character. Hewas, asa boy, bold, fearless, and courageous, as shown on many occasions. His mother cites several instances illustrative of his daring. One day there was to bea fair in the town of Morat, on the opposite side of the lake from Motier, and Louis with his brother Auguste determined to skate over, the lake being about two miles wide at this point. Their mother did not hear of this plan until they had started ; then taking her glass to watch them, fearing that the ice was too thin or unsafe, she saw them stop as if puzzled at a wide crack. Louis evidently could cross, but for the younger boy it was too wide. It did not require many moments for the intrepid Louis to solve the problem, and the anxious mother saw him drop upon his knees and reach the other side of the opening, with his hands, thus forming a living bridge over which the younger brother crawled in triumph, after which Louis leaped the fissure and they sped away over the ice, followed, it should be said, by a man-servant, sent by the uneasy parent. Although Agassiz was not sent to school until he was ten years of age, owing to the admirable instruction he had received from both parents, he was well abreast of boys of his age in almost every

Ao FD” VE

AGASSIZ’S FIRST AQUARIUM.

The Boy Agasstz. 5 branch of learning, while as for general information few of his companions were his equals. - Even at this early age his genius asserted itself in many ways. His young companions recognised the fact that he was different from them, and were in the habit of appealing to him in their games as possibly better able to decide the numerous questions of childhood. In his habits of observation, whether with the collection of fishes in the little aquarium, the insects found down in the vineyard, or the wild flowers on the hillside, he was laying up a store of truths that served him well in later years, and he is said to have referred to the fact that the thoughtfulness with which he made his observations and the tireless labour which he expended upon his work were due to the habits formed in the first decade of his childhood.

These traits were not unnoticed by his elders, and many were the early prophesies regarding the boy, though probably few realised how completely he would fulfil their prophetic sayings. Thechild’s unusual brightness was one reason for his not being sent to school earlier. Having lost two of her boys, his mother was very solicitous for those remaining, and watched their growth with increasing care and tenderness. Home teaching and abundant exercise in the open air was the training the young naturalist received to prepare him for his actual schooldays. From this time until within a few years of the ending of a great and expansive life, Agassiz was, to a greater extent than is generally known, influenced by his mother. She was always his close guide and adviser, and that her wisdom was result-producing is well shown as we follow up the well-rounded epochs which mark his career. It is often said that great men are the sons of noble mothers. In this case it was particularly true: the mother of Agassiz being a woman of great ability and good judgment; a strong and lovable character that left its mark on every step in the life of the naturalist.

Chapter II. School Days

Agassiz the Elder—Early College Life—College at Bienne—Vacation Days — Auguste Agassiz— Making Collections — Forming a Library—Village Festivals—Taste for Natural Science—A Manifesto—Agassiz Outlines His Career—Study of Fishes—Rambles in the Fields—First Lectures on Zodlogy.

‘7 bAssiz the elder, while a clergyman, was prominently interested in educational affairs and had a voice in all matters pertaining to schools; not from any _ especial desire on his part, but because he had a recognised fitness for the calling. His influence, it is said, was felt as much in the schools of Orbe, Motier, and Concise as in the pulpit, and one of the valued possessions of his descendants to-day is a piece of silver presented him by the municipality of Orbe as a token of their appreciation of his services in the cause of education. It is not surprising, then, that the clergyman determined that his son should have all the educational advantages attainable; and at the age of ten we find young Agassiz entered as a student at the college of Bienne, twenty miles from Motier, enthusiastic to begin what he considered his real education. The first year at this college, which was conducted by Mr. Rickly, was one of hard study; the daily work requiring nine hours, though the teachers saw that there was an abundance of outdoor recreation, so that the pupils, despite the long study hours, became vigorous and rugged.

After a year Agassiz was joined at college by his younger brother Auguste, whose tastes in many ways were similar to his own. A more delightful companionship between brothers can hardly be imagined. When the schooldays ended at the vintage, which was a festival as now in some portions of Switzerland, they together started for home early in the morning, thinking nothing of the twenty-mile walk. The vacation was spent either at Motier or with the kindly old grandfather Mayor at Cudrefin, where some festival was always to be expected and looked forward to. The boyhood of Agassiz was passed in a time when the simple life of the peasantry had not been invaded by modern common. place, and there was an air of romance about the very ordinary things in life. Even the picking of the grape was invested witha picturesqueness it does not now possess, and was the season of joy and gaiety. Easter was an especially festive occasion. Easter eggs were in vogue then as now, anda singular game was played to determine who should be

School Days. 9 king of the feast, previous to which a dance would take place on the green in front of the home of Grandfather Mayor.

uring these schooldays Agassiz’s love of nature grew more intense and expressed itself in various ways. Late in life he said, “I am conscious that at successive periods of my life I have employed very different means and followed very different systems of study.” When about twelve years of age, his methods were very much like many boys of to-day. He possessed a mania for collecting, and rapidly accumulated natural objects of all kinds, while a library grew under the united efforts of the two brothers; Auguste contributing his spending money for this purpose. Agassiz bought such books as he could find, and began a serious attempt to memorise the names of all the animals he collected, believing that the Latin equivalent was essential to complete knowledge. This, he says, seemed to him the highest attainment and legitimate aim of a naturalist, and he accumulated great volumes of manuscript containing the names of all the animals and plants he found, and modestly expressed the hope that in time he might be able to give the name of every known animal.

The young naturalist made remarkable progress during his schooldays at Bienne, so much so as to attract the attention of all his instructors; and during the last year we find his first announcement of a preference for the natural sciences. He already rebelled at the prospect before him of having to enter mercantile life, and outlined his wishes in a paper remarkable in a boy of his age and showing that his aims and aspirations were lofty from the very first. His manifesto was addressed to the audience of his imagination and doubtless was never intended to meet other eyes than his own. In it he expresses a wish to “advance in the sciences’’; also a desire to serve his apprenticeship at Neuchatel for a year or more, then to enter some university in Germany for afour years’ course; and finally to finish his education in Paris. ‘‘ Then,” said this lad of fourteen, “I could begin to write.” From this time on all his determination and energies evidently tended in this direction. ‘Iam resolved, so far as I am allowed to do so, to become a man of letters,” he wrote; then regrets that he can go no further from a lack of books. He needed “d’Anville, Ritter, an Italian dictionary, a Strabo in Greek, Mannert and Thiersch; and also the works of Malte-Brun and Seyfert,’”— books which would be considered advanced for boys of much maturer years.

. The future of young Agassiz had been planned by (nis parents, who had decided that when he attained the age of fifteen, he should enter upon a commercial life in the firm of his uncle at Neuchatel. That they also saw the dawning capacity for a totally different field of work is not improbable, as when the time came they readily granted a delay of two years, during which Agassiz was to study at the college of Lausanne,—a movement fatal to their hopes of making him a business man, as during this period he developed rapidly, and despite difficul-

School Days. 11 ties which would have daunted many an older man, entered upon the life of his choice.

Agassiz was about fifteen years of age when he entered the college of Lausanne. Here he devoted himself more and more to the sciences, in which he was aided and encouraged by scientific men, among whom was Professor Chavannes, Director of the Cantonal Museum, who was the possessor of a collection that delighted the young student and who gave him privileges he had never dreamed of. All the time he could spare from his studies was spent in the woods and fields searching for favourite specimens, or studying their habits. Insects were obtained from the bark of trees and old refuse; every stream and pond was made to deliver up its finny treasures, which were bred and studied, while the transformations of his cocoons into butterflies, was a constant delight. At home, during his vacations, the house was turned into a veritable museum, while his rooms at college were laden with the results of forages in field andstream. ‘ What I know of the habits of the fresh-water fishes of Central Europe,’’ he says, “I mostly learned at that time.”

It was while at Lausanne, in 1823, that Agassiz listened to his first course of lectures on zodlogy, which he describes, with just a suspicion of sarcasm, as consisting chiefly of extracts from Lamarck and Cuvier. Brief and unsatisfactory as may have been these lectures, they resulted in imparting a new zest to his studies and in pointing out the false standard he had raised. He now found that to name an animal correctly was a very unimportant matter, and appreciated for the first that the various authorities upon whom he was relying for information, differed in their views regarding the classification of animal life. He at once saw the opportunity for himself: he, too, could express an opinion as to classification. The only essential was knowledge of anatomy, and to obtain this he began the study of medicine that, as he has written, “I might see for myself where the truth was.” The young student was aided in this by his uncle, Dr. Mathias Mayor, who had long been attracted by his great promise and who consulted with his parents and advised them to allow him to study medicine and becomea physician, this profession evidently being more to his tastes. They did not require much urging, and, as a result, Agassiz’s prospects for a business career had an abrupt ending, and he entered the medical school at Zurich with enthusiasm, determined to move rapidly on to a high position in the field of his choice.

Chapter III. Characteristics And Habits

Appearance of Agassiz—Strong Personality—Captivates a Stranger— Filial Affection — Meeting Well-Known Naturalists — Love of Books—Copies Made—Determination of Character—Habits of Study and Observation—The Home Collections.

Gassiz was now a youth) of commanding appearance, tall, strong of limb, robust, his fine head, broad forehead with expressive eyes set well apart — characteristics that attracted attention and must have created the same impression upon his comrades that they did upon the writer when he first saw him in the early

sixties. One insensibly felt himself in the presence

of a man of true greatness.

The strong personality of the youth is well illus-

trated in an incident which occurred while he was a

medical student at Zurich. It wasthe custom of the two brothers, as we have seen, to travel over the country afoot, returning from their vacations in this way. During such a journey a gentleman passing in his carriage noticed the boys and requested them to join him at lunch, which he carried. They accepted the invitation and were soon unfolding their confidences to the courteous stranger, who was especially attracted to the older boy; so much so, that some days later, when the lads had returned to Zurich and the incident had almost passed out of their memory, a letter arrived at the parsonage embodying a request from the stranger that he might adopt Louis, further stating that he was a man of wealth, a resident of Geneva, and that he would undertake the entire expense of the young man’s education. Such an offer, which meant not a little, to a family of moderate means, was most tempting; but filial love and affection won the day, and the young man declined even by inference to sunder any of the ties that bound him to home and family.

This faculty which Agassiz seemed to possess, of attracting and impressing all with his mental vigour and charm of manner as well as his tastes for the sciences, now brought him into contact with men older than himself, all of whom aided in maturing his mind and giving him a stimulus in new channels. Among those who took an immediate interest in his work and future, was Professor Schinz, a distinguished scientist of the time, who was his professor in natural history and physiology. Professor Schinz invited him to his home, introduced him to other

Characteristics and Habits, 15 naturalists, and gave him his first impetus in the actual field of original investigation. He was the possessor of one of the best libraries in the city and was an ardent ornithologist. Agassiz was given the privilege of his books and collections and at once began to reap the harvest. ee OIn the present day of cheap books and public) libraries, when every village has its collection, it is difficult to realise the conditions that prevailed during the boyhood of our heroand the struggles which he had to surmount in the attainment of knowledge, and in this we see the strong features of his character—determination and thoroughness. His parents were by no means rich, and were straining every point in keeping the two boys at school, and had little or no money for any incidentals or luxuries. Books, then, no matter how cheap, were impossibilities; yet this did not deter the young naturalist. If he could not own the books he could at least copy them, and this is what he did, his brother aiding him, and hours were spent in this arduous work by both boys, Auguste’s devotion to his brother making it alabour of love. Inafter years, Agassiz, in commenting upon this lack of books, expressed the belief that it was really an advantage as it prevented him from relying too much on them; their absence forcing him to investigate for himself. The work accomplished in this way by this youth of seventeen or eighteen is a monument to his patience, and deserves the especial attention of my younger readers. What young man of to-day would be willing to copy a bulky volume for the sake of owning a copy? yet Agassiz did this on many occasions. Asan example of his indefatigable industry, he copied two volumes of Lamarck’s Animauz sans Vertebres, Auguste copying almost as much more for him.

While ostensibly devoting himself to the study of medicine, Agassiz undoubtedly paid most attention to the sciences of anatomy and zodlogy. He passed much time in the company of Professors Schinz and Hirzel, accompanying them in their trips and spending happy days in the intercourse of nature, rendered so much more delightful by the association of congenial spirits.

The room of the two boys, who lived in a private family, was a perfect museum: the corners and shelves heaped with shells, stuffed fishes, plants and specimens of all kinds, while from window and door-top came the notes of various feathered songsters that here made theirhome. Agassiz had over fifty birds alive in his room at one time, living examples for study, and from which he turned to the collection of mounted birds owned by Professor Schinz. Each species he carefully described, this being in his estimation a necessity, as he did not have the means to purchase even the most inexpensive treatise on birds.

When not engaged in study the brothers took to the field and forest. Every stream and lake was familiar to them, while every secret nook and corner famous for its fish was known.

They knew almost to a day when the birds re-

Characteristics and Habits, 17 turned or left and where the various kinds built their nests. The life histories of the various animals were their novels, and the accidental death of their pets the tragedies of their lives.

Chapter IV. Agassiz At Heidelberg

Early Associations—Reasons for Entering Heidelberg—Studying the Collections of Tiedemann—Agassiz and His Friends—An Accomplished Linguist—College Life—How the Honors Were Divided —Physical Exercise—Strong Religious Convictions — Collecting

HE lives of men are to a greater or less extent moulded by early associations. Agassiz was particularly fortunate in his friendships, and in his youth had immediate contact with men distinguished in various branches of learning that undoubtedly had no little influence in shaping his later career.

Agassiz not only appreciated this, but he entered Heidelberg University in 1826 that he might profit by the direct association with men who figured in the professions in which it was his purpose to excel. His work was laid out, his plans formulated, and

> Seeds 2 Re ages SSO8S—s__ a

AGASSIZ AT NINETEEN.

Agassiz at Heidelberg. 19 with remarkable prescience he took advantage of every point that would aid in his laudable ambition. The men who influenced his career were Leuckart, Tiedemann, and Braun.

Tiedemann placed his collections of books and specimens at his disposal, while the famous zodlogist Leuckart encouraged him in every way, imparting the enthusiasm that was so prominent a feature in his own character. Leuckart was a daring spirit, and his lectures encouraged the advanced students to move on for themselves into the unknown, to theorise and draw inferences from their own investigations. He was one of the rare men of that or any day who could make what are generally considered prosaic studies interesting and even delightfulto the masses, —a faculty which Agassiz possessed later in life to an eminent degree.

With Leuckart Agassiz continued his studies in animal life; with Bischoff he rambled over the fields, learning botanical wisdom from this eminent authority. Sometimes they spent the day among the flowers; again it was with the microscope, studying the pollen or smaller forms. From Braun he received the first inspiration which made him the paleontologist he became; and in this scientist’s collection of fossils he delved, storing up facts which became of use later on.

Agassiz was now not merely a scientist; he did not neglect other studies for rambles in the field. Even as a boy he was an accomplished linguist, speaking French and German so fluently that he would think in one language and express himself in the other, while Latin, Greek, English and Italian were all familiar to him.

The school life of the young student at Heidelberg was aseason of constant endeavour to perfect himself in the various branches of study. He had selected a boarding-place that had many of the attractions of the home at Motier, it being in the faubourg of the city which his window faced, while at the rear was a fine garden with trees and shrubs which Agassiz soon found abounded in birds with which he was familiar. His habits were severe and methodical, and his strict manner of living shows that he had himself under complete control. An early riser, he breakfasted at half-past six, and less than an hour later was listening to the lectures given in the Museum. There was no recess in the modern acceptation of the word, as if half an hour was gained from lecture or lesson it was devoted to a study of the anatomical preparations or to some special investigation suggested by Professor Schinz. After thisand often before the hour previous to dinner, Agassiz practised fencing with a friend, believing that it cultivated the eyes as well as all the faculties; and that he accomplished so much in later years was undoubtedly due to the fact that he took an abundance of physical exercise with the mental.