134 



Louis Agassis. 



Rio Negro, etc., etc., are the same as the lower 

 course of these rivers. As to the diversity of fish 

 in the whole basin, my expectations are far sur- 

 passed. Before arriving at Manaos I had already col- 

 lected more than three hundred species — that is to 

 say, at least three times the number of species thus 

 far known. About half have been painted from life 

 by Mr. Buckhardt ; if I can succeed in publishing all 

 these documents, the information I shall be able to 

 furnish on this subject will exceed all that has thus 

 far been made known. We are here without news 

 from the south since we left Rio, and all we had 

 learned then was, that after a very stormy passage 

 your Majesty had reached the Rio Grande. May 

 God protect and bless your Majesty ! 



With sentiments of the most profound respect 

 and the liveliest gratitude, I am. 



Your Majesty's very humble and obedient servant, 



L. Agassiz.'* 



While Agassiz studied these fishes the other mem- 

 bers of the party were up the various streams in the 

 vicinity, and new facts were being added to science 

 every day. At Fonte Boa Agassiz made a fine collec- 

 tion of fossil plants and more new fishes, which kept 

 artists and naturalists continually at work. Their 

 headquarters at Teffe were delightful, the house 

 being located in a green field descending gradually 

 to the river. Near the house was a turtle-tank, 

 which Agassiz immediately secured for his specimens 

 and soon converted into an aquarium. The house 

 took on the air of a laboratory. Cans, bags, and 

 barrels stood about ; there were swinging shelves for 



