The Little Academy. 27 



markable for the accuracy of his work ; everything 

 that he did was well done. From his deductions 

 there was, as a rule, no appeal, and from him Agassiz 

 learned habits of accuracy and care in all his ob- 

 servations and to weigh cause and effect. Dollinger 

 also had a marked effect upon his career. His 

 methods were peculiar and original. He cared 

 nothing for posthumous fame ; rarely if ever com- 

 municated the results of his observations to paper, 

 preferring to distribute his fund of information by 

 word of mouth, satisfied if it was taken advantage 

 of by his pupils, who often elaborated his ideas and 

 produced important results. In referring to this 

 much beloved tutor Agassiz says : I could enume- 

 rate many works of masters in our science that had 

 no other foundation at the onset than inspiring 

 conversations with Dollinger.'' 



From Oken Agassiz received much valued mind 

 training. It was from him that his first tangible 

 ideas of classification were obtained, while the 

 finished lectures of Schilling gave him ideas not only 

 of facts in nature but of style in delivery. 



The student life of Agassiz was an ideal one; 

 associated with men of the highest mental status as 

 his teachers, and surrounded by many admiring and 

 enthusiastic friends, the days passed only too quickly. 

 It was the custom of the students to make excur- 

 sions into the country together and to tarry at vari- 

 ous places to discuss their observations and discov- 

 eries. Dollinger was often their companion and 

 took an active interest in their studies, while one 

 evening of each week they were invited to the 



