LOUIS AGASSIZ. 257 



arranged so as to show at the same time their order of succession in the 

 diifereut epochs and their rehition with tlie existing animals. This 

 plan is completed by a third series devoted to the study of the A'arious 

 jihases of development of animals from the embryonic to the adult con- 

 dition. This museum, then, is destined to be an exposition of the history 

 of creation, as complete as it is possible for it to be under the present state 

 of our knowledge. Its organization absorbed more and more the time 

 and energy of Agassiz. No other scientific establishment has aspired 

 to a similar undertaking. 



When it came to the recent creation, it increased so rapidly that in 

 1872, in his last report of the progress of the establishment, Agassiz 

 could say that he was '^ in possession of the most beautiful collections 

 in the world, not excepting the oldest and largest museums of Europe." 

 What increased still more their value, was the zoological and paleon- 

 tological labors to which these collections gave rise. Naturahsts of great 

 distinction, Mr. Alexander Agassiz, our compatriots Messrs. Alexander 

 de Pourtales, Lesquereux, and some American scientists, Messrs. Lyman, 

 Hyatt, &c., described these treasures in works illustrated with magnifi- 

 cent plates. 



A voyage which Agassiz made to Europe in 1859 interrupted for 

 some time his incessant occupations. He was not forgotten in the Old 

 World, the scene of his first successes. The most brilliant offers were in 

 several instances made to him to induce him to remain, but he had in 

 America too many resources of all kinds to make him able or willing to 

 abandon his adopted country ; his only ambition was for science, and 

 he always continued faithful to the direction of his museum. He was 

 naturalized as an American citizen in 1862. 



The numerous labors he directed at last affected his robust health. 

 During the winter of ISOl-'Go the physicians ordered absolute repose 

 and a change of climate. But this rest proved to be as profitable to 

 science as the continuations of the works he had undertaken. After 

 some hesitation Brazil was selected as the destination of his voyage. 

 He had been for a long time attracted toward this country, to which 

 his first zoological researches had turned his attention. " Toward Brazil 

 I was drawn by a life-long desire. After the death of Spix, when a 

 student of twenty years of age, I had been employed by Martins to 

 describe the fishes they had brought back with them from their celebrated 

 Brazilian journey. From that time, the wish to study this fauna in the 

 regions where it belongs had been an ever-recurring thought with me; a 

 scheme deferred for want of opportunity, but never quite forgotten."* 



In order to render this voyage of real use, in order that he might not 

 return to the United States " rich in pleasant memories but without any 

 scientific residts," resources were necessary far beyond those required 

 for his personal expenses. Here, as on so many other occasions of his 

 life, bountiful means were voluntarily provided. Mr. Nathaniel Thayer 



* A journey in Brazil. (Preface, p. v.) 

 S. Mis. 59 17 



