218 LOUIS AGASS/Z. [CHAP. 



the microscope, and his manner of shaking hands was 

 very cordial and friendly. He stood firmly, though 

 his feet were rather small in comparison with his 

 herculean structure, and seemed formed for walking ; 

 indeed, he was all his life a capital pedestrian, both 

 on level ground and among the Alpine mountains. 



His head was simply magnificent, his forehead large 

 and well developed; and his brilliant, intelligent, and 

 searching eyes can be best described by the word fasci- 

 nating, while his mouth and somewhat voluptuous lips 

 were expressive, and in perfect harmony with an aqui- 

 line nose and well-shaped chin. His hair was chestnut 

 colour and rather thin, especially on the top of his 

 head ; indeed, after he was thirty-six years old he 

 showed signs of baldness, which greatly increased 

 after his fiftieth year. The only part of Agassiz's 

 body which was not in harmony with the rest was 

 his short neck, which gave him the appearance of 

 carrying his head on his shoulders, -- a defect which 

 he possessed in common with Napoleon Bonaparte. 

 It was his weak point, and the part which failed first. 



He was easily moved to tears, and at times cried 

 like a child. He had spells of laughing, which some- 

 times seemed forced, but which were perfectly spon- 

 taneous. It was almost impossible for him to conceal 

 his emotions. This remark applies more especially to 

 the first forty years of his life; later, he was less apt 

 to show his feelings. During the first half of his life 

 he was seldom angry, however great the provocation 

 might be. But after 1853, he quite often got into a 

 passion, even losing control of his words, although he 



