26 The Life and Writings of Agassiz. 



heads. As its temperature was below the freezing point, 

 the little particles of vapour were transformed into crystals 

 of ice, and reflected the sun's rays in all the colours of the 

 rainbow ; we seemed to be surrounded by a mist of gold." 



The scientific results of this ascension were, — the disco- 

 very that the snow, even on the highest summits, is not 

 changed into ice, though it rests on a crust of very compact 

 ice ; also, that the summit of the Jungfrau is gneiss, and not 

 limestone, as had been supposed. Among the lichens ga- 

 thered by M. Agassiz at the summit was anew species {Um- 

 bilicaria virginis, Schoer.) ; the others were among those 

 found by Saussure on Mont Blanc. 



The general features of M. Agassiz' history since 1845, 

 are probably known to most of our readers. In the autumn of 

 1846, being charged with a scientific exploration by the 

 King of Prussia, and having also received an invitation to 

 lecture by the Lowell Institute, he arrived in this country, 

 where he has since resided. On the establishment of the 

 Lawrence Scientific School at Cambridge, the professorship 

 of zoology and geology was offered to him, and, after some 

 deliberation, accepted. Of the results of his labours in this 

 country it is yet too soon to speak ; but the impulse given 

 to these studies by his presence is a matter of public noto- 

 riety, and of the highest importance to scientific culture 

 among us. — (^Massachusetts Quarterly Bevierv^ Dec. 1847.) 



The following Articles^ written by Professor Agassiz, or prepared 

 from his Works, have appeared in the Edinburgh New Philoso- 

 phical Journal. 



1. On a New Classification of Fiabes, and on the Geological Distribu- 

 tion of Fossil Fishes ; by Professor Agassiz ; vol. xviii., p. 175. 2. Work 

 of Agassiz on Fossil Fishes ; vol. xix., p. 33. 3. Upon Glaciers, Moraines, 

 and Erratic Blocks ; by Professor Agassiz ; vol. xxiv., p. 364. 4. Re- 

 marks on Glaciers ; by Professor Agassiz ; vol. xxvii., p. 388. 5. Re- 

 marks occasioned by Dr Mandl's Observations on the Structure of the 

 Scales of Fishes ; by Professor Agassiz ; vol. xxviii., p. 287. 6. On 

 Fossil Fishes found by Mr Gardner in the Province of Ceard, in the 

 North of Brazil ; by Professor Agassiz ; vol. xxx., p. 82. 7. New Views 

 regarding the Distribution of Fossils in Formations ; by Professor Agassiz ; 

 vol. xxxii., p. 97. 8. A Period in the History of Our Planet ; by Pro- 

 fessor Agassiz; vol. xxxv., p. 1. 9. Report of the Researches of M. 



