286 LOUIS AGASSIZ. 



will throw light on the organization of ani- 

 mals known hitherto only by the shell. I 

 have made a plaster collection of them for the 

 Geological Society. They have been packed 

 some time, but my late journey to Paris has 

 prevented me from forwarding them till now. 

 As soon as I have a moment, I shall make out 

 the catalogue and send it on. When you go 

 to London, do not fail to examine them ; the 

 result is curious enough. Finally, the plates 

 for the first number of my " Fresh - Water 

 Fishes " are in great part finished, and also 

 included in my package for Newcastle. . . . 

 The plates are executed by a new process, and 

 printed in various tints on different stones, re- 

 sulting in a remarkable uniformity of coloring 

 in all the impressions. . . . 



Such are the new credentials with which I 

 present myself, as I bring my thanks for the 

 honor paid to me by my nomination for the 

 vacancy in the Royal Society of London. If 

 unbounded devotion to the interests of science 

 constituted a sufficient title to such a distinc- 

 tion, I should be the less surprised at the 

 announcement contained in your last letter. 

 The action of the Royal Society, so flattering 

 to the candidate of your choice, has satisfied a 

 desire which I should hardly have dared to 



