148 LOUIS AGASSIZ. [CHAI-. xx. 



the most progressive men in Brazil. He was one of the 

 promoters of the construction of railroads in all parts 

 of the country, and distinguished himself greatly as a 

 government engineer. I became very strongly attached 

 to Coutinho afterward at Paris in 1867, 1868, and 

 1877, and appreciated highly the charm of his society 

 as a geologist, geographer, and friend. He died in 

 Paris, October u, 1890, while yet in middle life, 

 from an illness contracted in the unhealthy wilder- 

 ness of the Brazilian seacoasts, during his railroad 

 surveys. 



In the following paragraph I quote Agassiz's words 

 in regard to his expedition : - 



Once in the waters of the great river (the Amazons), I divided 

 my forces, in order to survey simultaneously various parts of this 

 vast fresh-water system, wishing to ascertain how far the distribu- 

 tion of its inhabitants was local, or whether the same species might 

 be found at the same moment in diliferent parts of the main stream 

 and its tributaries. This precaution led to results which amazed 

 me, though I was in part prepared for it by my knowledge of their 

 aquatic fauna. Not only did I find the number of species in these 

 waters exceeding by thousands all former estimates, but I found 

 their location so precise and definite, that new combinations occurred 

 at given intervals along the main stream, while every forest lake 

 and all the lesser watercourses had their special fauna. I neglected 

 no opportunity of verifying the accuracy of my results, visiting the 

 same regions at different seasons of the year, repeating my collec- 

 tions that I might have the fullest means of comparison, and, as I 

 have said, stationing my parties at considerable distances, in order 

 that by making simultaneous collections, we should ascertain what 

 was the range of the species (" Special Report of the Directors of 

 the Museum of Comparative Zoology," in " Annual Report for 

 1866," p. 14; Boston, 1867). 



