LIFE AT EAST BOSTON. 443 



was now draughtsman in chief to the whole 

 party. To his labors were soon added those 

 of Mr. A. Sonrel, the able lithographic artist, 

 who illustrated the most important works sub- 

 sequently published by Agassiz. To an ex- 

 quisite skill in his art he added a quick, intel- 

 ligent perception of structural features from 

 the naturalist's point of view, which made his 

 work doubly valuable. Besides those above- 

 mentioned, there were several assistants who 

 shared the scientific work in one department 

 or another. 



It must be confessed that this rather orig- 

 inal establishment had the aspect of a labo- 

 ratory rather than a home, domestic comfort 

 being subordinate to scientific convenience. 

 Every room served in some sort the purposes 

 of an aquarium or a studio, while garret and 

 cellar were devoted to collections. The rules 

 of the household were sufficiently elastic to 

 suit the most erratic student. A sliding scale 

 for meals allowed the greatest freedom for ex- 

 cursions along the neighboring shores and 

 beaches, and punctuality in work was the only 

 punctuality demanded. 



Agassiz himself was necessarily often ab- 

 sent, for the maintenance of the little colony 

 depended in great degree upon his exertions. 



