The Young Author. 3/ 



son. We can well imagine the satisfaction and 

 pleasure of the young author upon seeing the com- 

 mendatory notices in the press of the day, upon 

 receiving a long letter of thanks from the great 

 Cuvier, and upon hearing that his parents were 

 offered congratulations from all sides at the great 

 work accomplished by their son. The feeling at 

 home is happily expressed by the last line of a letter 

 from his father, who, after referring to his pride and 

 joy, wrote : The old father who waits for you with 

 open heart and arms sends the most tender greet- 

 ing." 



The author of an elaborate work, with the title of 

 Ph.D., Agassiz now turned his attention to secur- 

 ing the degree of M.D., which he had promised his 

 parents; yet he did not neglect his science studies. 

 The fascinations of Rondolet now absorbed his atten- 

 tion, and he was greatly impressed with the knowl- 

 edge displayed by this naturalist. Linnaeus was not 

 to his taste, while Aristotle delighted him, his books 

 always possessing a charm for him. In after years 

 he gave Linnaeus the appreciation this great natural- 

 ist deserved. 



Certain occurrences gave Agassiz a special interest 

 in the profession of medicine at this time, and he 

 took up the study with all his accustomed energy 

 and enthusiasm. He began a special course of study 

 with Euler, the two spending many evenings to- 

 gether reading medical books in French and Ger- 

 man. Yet the natural-history studies were not 

 neglected, the work on fishes still occupying his atten- 

 tion, and a collection of fossil fishes sent him by the 



