270 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



like it in all that we possess upon vertebrates. 

 I have also begun to study your text, so rich 

 in well arranged facts ; the monograph of the 

 Lepidostei, the passage upon the bony rays, 

 and, dear Agassiz, I could hardly believe my 

 eyes, sixty-five continuous pages of the third 

 volume, without interruption ! You will spoil 

 the public. But, my good friend, you have 

 already information upon a thousand species ; 

 " claudite jam rivos ! " You say your work 

 can go on if you have two hundred subscrib- 

 ers ; but if you continue to support two travel- 

 ing draughtsmen, I predict, as a practical man, 

 that it cannot go on. You cannot even pub- 

 lish what you have gathered in the last five 

 years. Consider that in attempting to give a 

 review of all the fossil fishes which now exist 

 in collections, you pursue a phantom which 

 ever flies before you. Such a work would 

 not be finished in less than fifteen years, and 

 besides, this now is an uncertain element. 

 Cannot you conquer yourself so far as to 

 finish what you have in your possession at 

 present ? Recall your artists. With the rep- 

 utation you enjoy in Europe, whatever might 

 essentially change your opinion on certain or- 

 ganisms would willingly be sent to you. If 

 you continue to keep two ambassadors in for- 



