MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY. 43 



bestowed, as he allows me the most absolute control over their application. 

 My first care is therefore to make sure that the persons selected, under these 

 circumstances, are truly interested in the study of natural history and intend 

 to make it their life business. It is hardly worth my while to give my time to 

 young men who may after a few months turn their attention to other studies. 

 And the pursuit of natural history requires a most absolute devotion. More- 

 over it is no light affair and before a satisfactory result can be reached it takes 

 years of hard and uninterrupted studies. I expect therefore that you will 

 seriously examine yourself before you decide to come and satisfy yourself 

 that you are prepared to go through the ordeal of a severe training during 

 which all preconceived notions and selfish aspirations must be set aside to 

 make room for such impressions as are resulting from a 'careful & faithful 

 examination of nature's facts. It is very rarely the case that a student in my 

 department, even if he brings to the task a thorough college education, is fit 

 to pass an examination before he has been three years in the laboratory. 

 For all this time and more if necessary, Mr. Thayer will provide for all your 

 wants, provided no extravagances are indulged in. You would have a room 

 in the building adjoining the Museum, known as Zoological Hall. 



Should you feel any misgiving upon reading the above, you may come for 

 a few weeks & see how the work suits you and give it up if you find it too 

 hard. I expect the students to be daily seven hours at their work in the labo- 

 ratory and otherwise to spend their time as becomes a student in reading 

 and making themselves generaly conversant with such collateral branches as 

 may advance their standing in their special pursuits. 



Should you now decide to come, you may enter the laboratory at once and 

 the sooner you come the better, since the vacation approaches during which 

 I only spend part of my time in the Museum. Speaking of vacation I would 

 add, that special students who would make the study of Nat. Hist, their life 

 business are expected to employ the ordinary vacations, allowed the students 

 in the University, in the same manner as term time and only to absent them- 

 selves for such short periods as the care of health requires. 



Respectfully yours, 



L. Agassiz. 

 Richard Bliss, Jr., Esq. 



