16 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



whose instruction derived freshness and vigor 

 from their original researches. He was espe- 

 cially indebted to Professor Schinz, a man of 

 learning and ability, who held the chair of 

 Natural History and Physiology, and who 

 showed the warmest interest in his pupil's 

 progress. He gave Agassiz a key to his pri- 

 vate library, as well as to his collection of 

 birds. This liberality was invaluable to one 

 whose poverty made books an unattainable 

 luxury. Many an hour did the young student 

 pass at that time in copying books which 

 were beyond his means, though some of them 

 did not cost more than a dollar a volume. 

 His brother Auguste, still his constant com- 

 panion, shared this task, a pure labor of love 

 with him, for the books were more necessary 

 to Louis's studies than to his own. 



During the two years passed by Agassiz in 

 Zurich he saw little of society beyond the 

 walls of the university. His brother and he 

 had a pleasant home in a private house, where 

 they shared the family life of their host and 

 hostess. In company with them, Agassiz 

 made his first excursion of any importance 

 into the Alps. They ascended the Eighi and 

 passed the night there. At about sunset a 

 fearful thunder-storm gathered below them, 



