The Late Professor Louis Agassis. 87 



Natural History of the United States," of which four quarto volumes 

 have appeared, devoted principally to the turtles and radiates. "The 

 Principles of Zoology," prepared conjointly with Dr, A. A. Gould, of 

 Boston, was for a long time used as a text-book in the schools of the 

 United States. The proceedings of the societies and associations in 

 Boston and elsewhere, and the volumes of the "American Journal of 

 Science," and other sc*ientific and literary serials, contain numerous ar- 

 ticles of greater or less magnitude from his pen. He also furnished 

 important contributions to various works by other authors, as to Nott- 

 Gliddon's "Types of Mankind," etc. 



In 1865 Professor Agassiz made a visit to Brazil, at the expense of 

 Mr. Nathaniel Thayer, an account of which was published in a hand- 

 some volume in 1867. In November, 1871, he started on a voyage 

 round Cape Horn in the ^United States Coast Survey steamer Hassler, 

 reaching California in the summer of 1872. 



During the whole period of his residence in this country. Professor 

 Agassiz was diligently occupied in collecting materials with which to 

 enrich what he was determined should be the most complete and best 

 appointed museum of natural history in the world, and at the time of 

 his death he had measurably accomplished his purpose. Numerous 

 expeditions were made by him for the purpose of gathering zoological 

 objects, and collectors were dispatched to or engaged in various por- 

 tions of the world with the same intention. These, with spontaneous 

 contributions from all directions, brought a continued influx of mate- 

 rial to Cambridge. The expedition to Brazil, and that around Cape 

 Horn in the Hassler, were greatly productive ; to such an extent, in- 

 deed, as to require a considerable time yet to come before the material 

 can all be properly assorted. 



The intensity of Professor* Agassiz's labors had naturally the effect 

 of injuring his healtji, and for some years past his physicians have in- 

 sisted upon a relaxation; but so powerful were the temptations that it 

 was almost impossible to prevent his going beyond his strength. His 

 voyages to Brazil and around Cape Horn to California were of eminent 

 service to him, and his friends had sti-ong hopes for the future ; but it 

 is probable that the labors consequent upon the establishment of the 

 Penikese Summer School of Natural History had a great influence in 

 the final breaking down of his health. 



Much restored by a short vacation spent at the White Mountains, 

 on his return to Cambridge he entered upon his duties connected with 

 the museum of comparative zoology with renewed zeal ; and, probably 

 in consequence of exposure in this connection, he was taken ill, and 

 died at 10.15 p.m., Sunday, December 14, at the age of si.s:ty-seven, 

 universally lamented. 



