Agassiz and His Works. 209 



to the brilliancy of the upper region in which I 

 stood. One wonders where even so much vapour as 

 may be transformed into the finest snow should 

 come from at such heights. But the warm winds, 

 creeping up the sides of the valleys, the walls of 

 which become heated during the middle of the day, 

 come laden with moisture, which is changed to a 

 dry snow-like dust as soon as it comes into contact 

 with the intense cold above.'' 



While the works of Agassiz were well received by 

 the public, they were enthusiastically praised by his 

 friends, particularly Von Humboldt. '^You are 

 happy, my dear Agassiz,'' he said, in the more 

 simple and yet truly proud position which you have 

 created for yourself. Your admirable work . . . 

 draws to a close. The last number, so rich in dis- 

 coveries, and the prospectus, explaining the true state 

 of this vast publication, have soothed all irritation 

 regarding it. It is because I am so attached to you 

 that I rejoice in the calmer atmosphere you have 

 thus established about you. The approaching com- 

 pletion of the work delivers me also from the fear 

 that a too great ardour might cause j^ou irreparable 

 loss. You have shown not only what a talent like 

 yours can accomplish, but also how a noble cour- 

 age can triumph over seemingly insurmountable 

 obstacles." 



Referring to the work on Fresh- Water Fishes^ Hum- 

 boldt said : " In what words shall I tell you how 

 greatly our admiration is increased by this new work 

 on the Fresh- Water Fishes ? Nothing has appeared 

 more admirable, more perfect, in drawing and colour. 

 14 



