HOW AGASSIZ TAUGHT 



their tails, bearing aloft umbrellas; and gro- 

 tesque fishes with gaping mouths and staring 

 eyes. The Professor came in shortly after, and 

 was as amused as any at our experiments. He 

 looked at the fishes. 



'Haemulons, every one of them,' he said; 

 'Mr. drew them.' 



True; and to this day, if I attempt a fish, 

 I can draw nothing but haemulons. 



The fourth day, a second fish of the same 

 group was placed beside the first, and I was 

 bidden to point out the resemblances and 

 differences between the two; another and 

 another followed, until the entire family lay 

 before me, and a whole legion of jars covered 

 the table and surrounding shelves; the odor 

 had become a pleasant perfume; and even now, 

 the sight of an old, six-inch, worm-eaten cork 

 brings fragrant memories. 



The whole group of haemulons was thus 

 brought in review; and, whether engaged upon 

 the dissection of the internal organs, the 

 preparation and examination of the bony frame- 

 work, or the description of the various parts, 

 Agassiz's training in the method of observing 



[47] 



