CHAPTER XII 



Petersburg — Baer prize — Return home — Friendship with Cienkovsky 

 — Odessa — Naturalists' Congress at Petersburg — Departure from 

 Odessa — Zoological Lecturer's Chair at Petersburg — Messina — 

 Enforced rest — Reggio — Naples — Controversy with Kovalevsky — 

 Visit to the B. family — Mile. F6dorovitch — Educational questions 

 — Difficulties of life in Petersburg. 



During his stay abroad, MetchnikofE had successfully 

 carried out several researches, and this allowed him 

 to apply for a post of docent at the new University of 

 Odessa, which he had chosen on account of its proxi- 

 mity with the sea and its marine fauna. Whilst 

 awaiting the result he went to Petersburg in order to 

 pass his thesis and to prepare himself to become a 

 professor. He received a pleasant welcome, for his 

 lively and sociable disposition had made him many 

 friends. The brothers Kovalevsky, with whom he was 

 already on friendly terms, offered him hospitality ; 

 he also made the acquaintance of Professor Beketoif, 

 and soon became a member of his family circle. 



He was well received everywhere, for his scientij&c 

 precocity excited general interest. He was even 

 elected magister ^ by the Faculty, without having to 

 pass an examination, on account of the work he had 

 done. He and Kovalevsky halved Baer's first prize, 

 and they were invited and treated with the utmost 

 kindness by Baer himself. Metchnikoff had certainly 



^ A degree preceding that of Doc.Sc. 



58 



