Agasstz and His Works. 



211 



bution to the subject, and one which added not a 

 little to his fame and reputation. 



Agassiz was now but thirty-five years of age, yet 

 few scientists in Europe were as well known to the 

 world. There was hardly a branch of science upon 

 which he was not authority. The year 1846 saw the 

 completion of what was to all intents and purposes a 

 vast index of the genera of the animal kingdom, an 

 extensive work in which he was assisted by twenty- 

 two scientific friends, among whom the work was 

 divided. The volume was issued under the title of 

 Nomenclator Zodlogicus. 



One of Agassiz's first works in the United States 

 was an account of his investigations in the Lake 

 Superior region, and it is interesting to note that in 

 later years his son Alexander became the owner of 

 valuable copper interests here, the proceeds of which 

 have been used with a prodigal hand in the cause of 

 science and upon the museum which Louis Agassiz 

 founded. 



Agassiz's notes upon his observations in America 

 soon assumed large proportions. Among the first 

 publications was a paper on the viviparous fishes 

 of California, then recently discovered, while a still 

 greater plan began to take form in his mind. This 

 was an elaborate work, to be entitled Contributions 

 to the Natural History of the United States, and to 

 entail the pubHcation of at least ten large volumes. 

 It was to be a subscription work, and in a very short 

 time twenty-five hundred names were secured, attest- 

 ing to the popularity of the distinguished writer. 

 This work was never fully completed, but four vol- 



