XXlll 



He studied Classics at tlie Lausanne Academy, and in his ISth year 

 entered on tlie study of Medicine. He spent two years at Ziirich, and 

 thence went to Heidelberg, where he studied Anatomy under Tiedemann, 

 Botany and Zoology under Bischoff and Leuckart. He went in the follow- 

 ing year to the Uniyersity of Munich, w^here there were at that time many 

 distinguished professors, among them Oken. 



At Munich his inclination for the study of Embryology was fostered 

 by his residence in the honse of Dollinger. Even at this early period of 

 his career Agassiz showed the strong leaning towards a combination of 

 Natural History and Metaphysics which was his characteristic through 

 life ; and whilst studyiiig medicine with a view of making it his profession, 

 he still found time to attend Schelling's course of Mental Philosophy for 

 four consecutive years. 



Of his teachers at Munich he has since said, — "Our professors were 

 themselves original investigators, daily contributing to the sum of human 

 knowledge. They were not only our teachers, but our friends. The best 

 spirit prevailed among professors and students. We were often com- 

 panions of their walks, often present at their discussions ; and when we 

 met for conversation or to give lectures among ourselves, as we constantly 

 did, our professors were often among our listeners, cheering and 

 stimulating us in all our efforts after independent research. My room 

 was our meeting-place, bed-room, study, museum, library, lecture-room, 

 fenciug-room, all in one: students used to call it 'The Little Aca- 

 demy.'" 



At the age of 21 his reputation at the University of Munich was such 

 that Martins entrusted to him the task of describing the fishes collected 

 in Brazil by Spix. This work was published in 1829,, under Ihe title 

 " Selecta genera et species Piscium, quos in itinere per Brasiliam peracto 

 collegit et pingendos curavit Dr. J. B. de Spix : digessit, descripsit et 

 observationibus illustravit Dr. L. Agassiz." 



Agassiz had already taken the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, and 

 during the following year he passed examinations in Medicine and 

 Surgery. 



His work for Martins had led him to make a special study of Ichthyology; 

 and before long he extended his researches from living species to fossil, 

 and entered on that vast field which ^1-as to yield him so rich a harvest. 



On leaving Munich he resided for a time in Paris, where he acquired 

 the friendship of Ouvier and improved his acquaintance with Humboldt, 

 who became from that time his friend and counsellor for life. 



In 1832 he began his career as a teacher. He applied to M. Louis 

 Coulon to obtain for him a position as Professor of jNTatural History in the 

 G-ymnasium of Neufchatel. jSTo professorship of the kind then existed 

 there ; but M. Coulon set to work and raised money enough to guarantee 

 a salary of 2000 francs for three years, and Agassiz was installed as the 

 Professor. There being neither Museum nor Lecture-room, Agassiz 



