Louis Agassiz. 



study has revealed relations between the animals of 

 past time and those now living, and between the law 

 of succession in the former and the laws of growth 

 and distribution in the latter, so intimate and com- 

 prehensive that this labyrinth of organic life assumes 

 the character of a connected history, which opens 

 before us with greater clearness in proportion as our 

 knowledge increases. But when the museums of the 

 Old World were founded, these relations were not 

 even suspected. The collections of natural history, 

 gathered at immense expense in the great centres of 

 human civilization, were accumulated mainly as an 

 evidence of man*s knowledge and skill in exhibiting 

 to the best advantage, not only the animals, but the 

 products and curiosities of all sorts from various parts 

 of the world. While we admire and emulate the in- 

 dustry and perseverance of the men who collected 

 these materials, and did in the best way the work it 

 was possible to do in their time for science, we have 

 no longer the right to build museums after this 

 fashion. The originality and vigour of one generation 

 become the subservience and indolence of the next 

 if we only repeat the work of our predecessors. 

 They prepared the ground for us by accumulating 

 the materials for extensive comparison and research. 

 They presented the problem ; we ought to be ready 

 with the solution. If I mistake not, the great object 

 of our museums should be to exhibit the whole 

 animal kingdom as a manifestation of the Supreme 

 Intellect. Scientific investigation in our day should 

 be inspired by a purpose as animating to the general 

 sympathy, as was the religious zeal which built the 



