146 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



this century, I perceived that while nomen- 

 clature and classification, as then understood, 

 formed an important part of the study, being, 

 in fact, its technical language, the study of 

 living beings in their natural element was of 

 infinitely greater value. At that age, namely, 

 about fifteen, I spent most of the time I could 

 spare from classical and mathematical studies 

 in hunting the neighboring woods and mead- 

 ows for birds, insects, and land and fresh- 

 water shells. My room became a little mena- 

 gerie, while the stone basin under the fountain 

 in our yard was my reservoir for all the fishes 

 I could catch. Indeed, collecting, fishing, 

 and raising caterpillars, from which I reared 

 fresh, beautiful butterflies, were then my chief 

 pastimes. What I know of the habits of the 

 fresh-water fishes of Central Europe I mostly 

 learned at that time ; and I may add, that 

 when afterward I obtained access to a large 

 library and could consult the works of Bloch 

 and Lacepede, the only extensive works on 

 fishes then in existence, I wondered that they 

 contained so little about their habits, natural 

 attitudes, and mode of action with which I 

 was so familiar. 



" The first course of lectures on zoology I 

 attended was given in Lausanne in 1823. !* 



