1874.] 3 [Annual Report. 



future researches in a more fruitful direction. How much we 

 owe to his labors in this field may be judged by the almost 

 universal tendency of our naturalists toward embryological 

 and anatomical studies. We have* seen this in the pro- 

 duction of such works as Prof. H. J. Clark's "Spongiaa Cili- 

 atae," Mr. J. A. Allen's " Laws of Geographical Distribution 

 among Birds," Dr. A. S. Packard's " Embryology of Limulus" 

 and " Guide to the Study of Insects," Prof. E. S. Morse's 

 "Embryology of Brachiopods," and Alexander Agassiz's 

 " Researches upon Echinoderms." 



How widely his labors have extended, and how deeply 

 they have affected the whole country in this respect cannot 

 be estimated ; it would take up the entire space allotted to 

 this Report, if presented in detail. It suffices to say, how- 

 ever, that his students, bearing with them more or less of his 

 desire for the philosophical study of Natural History, have 

 spread over the whole country. They have founded Muse- 

 ums in Chicago, Rochester, New York and Salem, and have 

 established a Natural History periodical, " The American 

 Naturalist," and a State Survey, that of Kentucky, to which 

 I hope we may soon be able to add Massachusetts. 



The constant efforts which Prof. Agassiz put forth in order 

 to place the pursuit of Natural History in a favorable light 

 before the people, entitle him to the heartfelt thanks of all 

 lovers of that branch of science. The almost universal deri- 

 sion with which the pursuit of Natural History was viewed 

 in former times, has been changed to respect, principally 

 through his efforts. His great social influence and persua- 

 sive eloquence was constantly employed in this work. He 

 consistently taught his students that the future progress 

 of science in this country must largely depend upon the 

 good will of the people ; and he created by his own efforts 

 that popular respect for Natural History which we now find 

 throughout the whole country. 



Even with such a brief statement of facts it is possible to 

 see that Prof. Agassiz's biographer can claim for him the 



