LOUIS AGASSIZ 159 



of Comparative Zoology as it stands to-day was founded and 

 equipped on land provided by Harvard University and the state, 

 an institution which has grown and been added to by his distin- 

 guished son, Alexander Agassiz. The museum was dedicated in 

 1860, and the present writer for the pleasure of it made large and 

 extensive collections with Dr. J. B. Holder, late curator of Zoology 

 of the American Museum of Natural History, New York, on the 

 Florida reef for Agassiz at this time, forwarding them all during 

 the Civil War by every passing vessel, many of which were cap- 

 tured by the various Confederate cruisers, so failed to reach their 

 destination. 



Agassiz's energy at this time was boundless, and he began a 

 series of elaborate volumes, ten in number, entitled Contribu- 

 tions to the Natural History of the United States, the expenses 

 of which were met by public subscription, and four of those 

 monumental works were completed before his death. The first 

 volume was completed on his fiftieth birthday, which was cele- 

 brated by his pupils, who serenaded him, giving at midnight the 

 grand Choral of Bach. The event was also emphasized by the 

 Saturday Club of which he was an honored member, at which 

 Longfellow read a poem entitled "The Fiftieth Birthday of Agas- 

 siz," Dr. Holmes says, "I cannot forget the delicate unusual way 

 in which he read his charming verses": 



It was fifty years ago, 



In the pleasant month of May, 

 In the beautiful Pays de Vaud, 



A child in its cradle lay. 



And Nature, the old nurse, took 



The child upon her knee, 

 Saying: ''Here is a story-book 



Thy Father has written for thee." 



"Come wander with me," she said, 

 "Into regions yet untrod, 

 And read what is still unread 

 In the manuscripts of God." 



