The Life and Writings of Agasslz. 7 



naturalists, among others of Fitzinger ; and applied himself 

 to the special study of Ichthyology. 



This study, with him, was not confined to living species. 

 He had extended his researches to the fossil kinds, and the 

 debris (often admirably preserved) found in the fresh-water 

 deposits of Oeningen, in Switzerland, had attracted his par- 

 ticular attention. He found that most of the species said to 

 be identical with those of the present epoch, were different, 

 and therefore had drawings made of a great number ; so that 

 when he returned to Switzerland, his portfolio contained al- 

 most as many fossil as recent species. What was he to do 

 with all these materials ? His parents having already made 

 great sacrifices for him, and seeing no guarantee for the 

 future, were impatient for him to begin his medical career. 

 In this conflict of his tastes and his filial duties, his position 

 was difficult. 



Eut he had not yet seen Paris, and he could not make up 

 his mind to commence practice, without having examined the 

 rich collections of that great capital, — without having visited 

 the Jardin des Plantes ; and, above all, without having heard 

 Cuvier, whose renown filled the world. 



But how was he to find means to go to Paris \ His parents 

 were neither able nor willing to contribute anything towards 

 it. Fortunately, a neighbouring clergyman, a friend of his 

 father, who had always entertained the highest opinion of liiH 

 talents, having just inherited a small sum of money, thought 

 he could not employ it better than in aiding the project of his 

 young friend. 



On his arrival in Paris, Agassiz lost no time in seeking out 

 the two most eminent men of the age, then residing in that 

 city — Cuvier and Humboldt. 



Cuvier, in order to assuage his grief for the death of his 

 daughter, had just commenced his great work on Fishes, and 

 received with eagerness every thing concerning fossil species. 

 Agassiz relied upon his portfolio for his introduction to the 

 great naturalist. Cuvier was so much astonished by it, that 

 after a second interview, he informed Agassiz, that he would 

 give up the projected publication, and make over to him all 

 his materials, if he ^yould undertake to describe them. For 



