a 
202 Agassiz’s Contributions to the 
Art. XTX.—Agassiz’s Contributions to the Natural History of the 
United States. 
TuE publication of the first two volumes of the ‘“ Contribu- 
tions to the Natural History of the United States” by Professor 
Agassiz was announced in our last number, and a statement, In 
brief, made of their contents. The philosophical merits of the 
work, as well as its national character, entitle it to a more de- 
tailed notice. 
While the special subject in American zoology selected for 
the volumes is the Embryology of Turtles, the first of the two 
is mainly occupied with general considerations on the system Im 
the kingdoms of life—a topic of wide import to science, making 
an appropriate introduction to the great work. 
These opening chapters have also a peculiar interest for the 
y: ate 
A successful searching out of nature’s laws requires faith 10 
the fullness of the revelation, and in finite mind as the interpre 
ter. This faith, moreover, should be coupled with a profound 
of nature's oneness in law, purpose and Author. 
sense d 
mind should also be open to the slightest breath of trath —_ va 
Whatever source, quick in its perceptions of parallelisms and 
relation, so that all shall take their true position, and evolve, from 
their thoughts and vision; they are apt to be drawn aside by 
s ial vi o often seek novelty am 
self-exaltation ‘in place of truth: and all systems of philosop hy 
suffer more or less from these sources of evil. He is the tt 
student of nature, although thus imperfect, who seeks that es 
should speak through him, and strives to express the sentiments 
at come forth at her dictation. And far profounder is his appre 
hension of truth when he realizes, in all its significance, that 3° 
L 3 
