110 EMINENT NATURALISTS. 



exploration of the shores of the Lake Superior. The 

 results of this journey appeared in the well-known 

 work, published in 1850, " Lake Superior : its Physical 

 Character, Yegetation, and Animals," in which Agassiz 

 discussed in detail the erratic phenomena of the lake, 

 its future form and extent, and the character of its 

 ichthyologieal and reptilian fauna. The narrative 

 part was written by Mr. J. Eliot Cabot, together with 

 the reports of the lectures which the Professor delivered 

 at the close of each day; and Mr. J. Le Conte con- 

 tributed the account of the coleoptera. In succeeding 

 years, he made similar expeditions with his pupils 

 into the interior of the United States, and with the 

 collections brought back laid the foundation of a 

 natural history museum, which until then had no 

 existence at Harvard University. 



At the request of Professor Backe, of the Coast 

 Survey, Agassiz passed the winter of 1850 among 

 the Florida reefs, where he determined the law of 

 growth by which that peninsula has gradually 

 extended southward by the successive formation of 

 reefs, keys, and mud flats. 



His stay at Charlestown, South Carolina, led to 

 his appointment in 1852, to the chair of Comparative 

 Anatomy at the Medical College ; but he returned 

 to Cambridge after two years, the warmer climate 

 of the south not agreeing with him. Soon after 

 he visited all the great towns of North America, 

 lecturing in all departments of zoology and geology. 

 Everywhere he was received with enthusiasm, for 

 his expositions were remarkably clear, and full of 



