The Agassiz Memorials. 249 



So much I have said to show you the nature and 

 power of scientific methods and especially of that 

 method — the method of comparison — upon which 

 rests the whole fabric of the science of organisms. 

 Now what has Agassiz done in perfecting this 

 method ? I will attempt to explain. 



We have seen that this method consists of three 

 subordinate methods which lead to similar results, 

 viz, : comparison in the three series, the natural his- 

 tory series, the embryonic series, and the geological 

 series. Now Cuvier and his co-labourers introduced 

 and perfected comparison in the natural history 

 series and thus laid the foundation of scientific 

 zoology ; but Agassiz and Von Baer and their co- 

 labourers extended the method of comparison into 

 the embryonic and geological series, and also into 

 the relation of the three series to each other ; and 

 thus greatly perfected the method and increased its 

 power. Others, no doubt many others, assisted in 

 the great work, but Agassiz was unquestionably the 

 leader in the movement. For forty years Agassiz 

 worked incessantly, enthusiastically — even to the 

 breaking down of his strong physical constitution 

 and the sacrifice of his life — on the ideas and the 

 methods conceived in his youth. Is not this a great 

 life ? 



Finally, let us glance at some of the results of 

 Agassiz's method. The direct result is too familiar 

 and obvious to dwell on. We see it in the amazing 

 impulse given to biology and its consequent great 

 and ever-increasing progress in recent times. I will 

 only very briefly draw your attention to the indirect 



