LOUIS AGASSIZ. 325 



touch alone ; by the tongue when the fingers were 

 not sufficiently sensitive to feel out the impression. 

 With great care his eyes improved, so that he was 

 able to use them through life more constantly than 

 most persons. 



In October, 1833, when he was twenty-six, 

 Agassiz married Cecile Braun of Carlsruhe, the 

 sister of his life-long friend Alexander. They 

 began housekeeping in a small apartment at Neu- 

 chatel, both practising the closest economy that the 

 books might be carried on; the " Fresh- Water 

 Fishes," and the " Fossil Fishes." She was a skil- 

 ful artist, had done much work for her brother in 

 botany, and now helped her young husband in 

 drawing and coloring his fishes. 



The first number of the " Fossil Fishes " had al- 

 ready appeared, with the following title, which 

 shows the plan of the great work, to which he 

 devoted ten years, from 1833 to 1843 : 



" Researches on the Fossil Fishes : comprising an 

 Introduction to the Study of these Animals ; the 

 Comparative Anatomy of Organic Systems which 

 may contribute to facilitate the Determination of 

 Fossil Species ; a New Classification of Fishes, ex- 

 pressing their relations to the Series of Forma- 

 tions ; the Explanation of the Laws of their 

 Succession and Development during all the 

 Changes of the Terrestrial Globe, accompanied by 

 General Geological Considerations; finally, the 

 Description of about a thousand Species which no 

 longer exist, and whose Characters have been 



