24 BULLETIN OF THE 



path. The curve exhibiting this path was very simple in his first 

 drawings and very complicated in the last, according to the changes 

 made in the constants entering into the equation, but the law on 

 the equation of the curve remained the same. The last drawings 

 disclosed highly complex and involved curves not unlike the 

 epicycloids. 



Prof. Peirce said that these drawings had greatly interested Prof. 

 Agassiz, then absent in his voyage around Cape Horn. It was a 

 striking example of the great varieties and possibilities in nature, 

 buried in the same law. These curves, however apparently differ- 

 ent, were traced by the use of the same identical equation, and 

 between the examples exhibited by Prof. Peirce of course myriads 

 of intermediate curves existed. It is obvious that the attraction of 

 all this to Agassiz was the anolagy to organisms in botany and in 

 zoology where groups and species obey some common generalization. 



A son of Prof. Peirce has stated that this discussion was never 

 printed, and it is feared that a large share of his brilliant original 

 conception will never be published. 



Mr. Elliott referred in warm terms to the genial disposition of 

 Prof. Pierce, and to the encouragement always given by him to 

 young investigators, a characteristic by which he was marked. 



Mr. Elliott mentioned that he was the fortunate possessor of a 

 presentation copy of the " Linear Associative Algebra " referred to 

 by Prof. Hilgard, a work which could not fail to impress the in- 

 vestigator with respect and admiration for the great genius of the 

 author. 



Prof. Hilgard said he would supplement his first characteriza- 

 tion of the ideal algebra, and would call that work the exhaustive 

 treatment of a given mode of investigation, a method of research 

 carried to its uttermost limit and completely exhausted. 



Mr. Alvord stated that Prof. Peirce undoubtedly did a good 

 deal to further the cause of astronomical science by obtaining appro- 

 priations to test the value of heights on the Union Pacific Railroad 

 for astronomical observations. In August, 1868, at Chicago, the 

 American Association for the Advancement of Science recommended 

 the establishment of an observatory in that region. Prof. Peirce, 

 as Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, had observa- 



