LOUIS AGASSIZ 41 



ties, of Ms perseverance, of the esteem in 

 which he was already held among scien- 

 tific men, this came to his parents in 

 one way and another. The wonderful 

 news of his forthcoming book was fol- 

 lowed shortly by the book itself, brave 

 with coloured plates and Latin descrip- 

 tions. Added to all this was the affec- 

 tionate obedience with which Louis 

 pressed on to the degree of Doctor of 

 Medicine. He took his degree brill- 

 iantly in 1830 ; and this, although he 

 had not only accomplished the work on 

 Brazilian Fishes in his student time, but 

 had also taken by the way the degree 

 of Doctor of Philosophy, which was a 

 desirable addition to his name on the 

 Brazilian title-page. The innocent ex- 

 ultation of son and parents, first over 

 the book and later over the diploma, is 

 best given in their own words: "Will 

 it not seem strange when the largest and 

 finest book in papa's library is one 

 written by his Louis 1 Will it not be as 



