32 



Louis Agassiz. 



The intention of these naturahsts was to complete 

 the natural history of Brazil — a magnificent project, 

 but before it could be accomplished Spix died. 

 Upon Von Martius devolved the responsibility of 

 finishing this great work, and he was in the midst of 

 some perplexity as to who should describe the fishes 

 when Agassiz appeared upon the scene. Von Mar- 

 tins soon recognised his ability, especially in the 

 department of ichthyology, and finally astonished 

 the young man by suggesting that he undertake the 

 work. 



At this time Agassiz was but twenty-one years of 

 age, and the tender of so important a commission by 

 so distinguished a naturalist was an honour well cal- 

 culated to turn the head of an older man. Here 

 was the goal of authorship well within his grasp, 

 and to say that he received the offer with delight 

 but faintly describes his actual sensations. Yet 

 Agassiz did not accept immediately, and in his hesi- 

 tation we have a glimpse of the real nobility of his 

 nature. He knew that his parents earnestly desired 

 to see him a physician and surgeon, yet every day 

 he felt himself by taste, sentiment, and his sur- 

 roundings drawn in an opposite direction where a 

 possible future as a scientist seemed to beckon him. 

 The proposition of Von Martius was the opportunity 

 of a lifetime, the successful accomplishment of which 

 would give him an immediate name and fame. Yet 

 he took days to consider the offer, thinking that the 

 work would possibly take him away from the studies 

 in which he knew his parents wished him to excel. 

 He finally decided that he could undertake the pub- 



