256 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



which fifty sheets are already printed. I will 

 send you the volumes as soon as they appear, 

 in octavo. I devoured your fourth number ; 

 the plates are almost finer than the previous 

 ones ; and the text, though I have only looked 

 it through hastily, interested me deeply, espe- 

 cially the analytical catalogue of Bolca, and 

 the more general and very philosophical views 

 of fishes in general, pp. 57-64. The latter is 

 also remarkable in point of style. . . . 



M. von Buch, who has just left me, sends 

 you a warm greeting. None the less does he 

 consider the method of issuing your text in 

 fragments from different volumes, altogether 

 diabolical. I also complain a little, though in 

 all humility ; but I suppose it to be connected 

 with the difficulty of concluding any one fam- 

 ily, when new materials are daily accumulat- 

 ing on your hands. Continue then as before. 

 In my judgment, M. Agassiz never does 

 wrong. . . . 



The above letter, though written in May, 

 did not reach Agassiz until the end of July, 

 when he was again on his way to England, 

 where his answer is dated. 



