The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1874-02-04

accordingly, with this view, began a col
lection of materials, which lie stored in
the basement of his own house. In 1852,
Harvard College was enabled to possess
these treasures which were purchased for
it at cost OF $4,000, through the liber-
atty of interested friends. To this nu-
cleus Professor Agassiz continued to add,
and six years later had secured collec-
ton which furnished formidable argu-
ment for the execution of his cherished
plan. A bequest of $50, 900 by Francis g.
Gray of this city, in 1858, furnished the
financial nucleus for the Museum of Com
parative Zoology, the State voting, the fol-
lowing year, aid to the extent of 100000
and 81 900 being raised by subscription.
The establishment thus begun had so far
increased in magnitude that when Pro
fessor Tyndall visited this country he de-
clared that Agassiz had then more than
realized his intended project. The scheme
had been carried so far that it had become
comprehensive enough to enlist the sym
pathies of all classes of scientific thinkers
In view of this and of the interest which
those connected with it displayed in max
ing it worthy of its founder, Agassiz said,
quite recently: "The past year has
proved beyond question that the museum
Is now so organized, vitalized as it were
with the spirit of thought and connected
work, that my presence or absence is of
little importance. 1t will keep on its
course without any new or repeated slim
illus beyond the necessary appropriations
for its maintenance" And in answer to
the traditionary objections that he was
exceeding the scope Of his department in
thus expansively building up the institu-
ton, he said: "The time has passed
when the value of museum is to be mea-
sured by the number of its stuffed birds
and empty shells;" and his spirit and pres
ence have kept the vitalizing force in ac-
ton which prevented the place from fall
ing into old-times narrowness.
The interest which those outside the
institution felt in it was not equal to the
zeal, as may be supposed, which the
founder had for it, and hence the opposi-
ton which he incurred in asking the Leg
stature for a grant of $4,000, a year
since Half the sum was given him,
while Mr.. Shaw added 100000, and Mr..
Alexander Agassiz another $25 900 This
$4,000 will be sufficient to keep the in
stitution only for another year. 1t is due
to the friends of the deceased professor,
who have the means to nobly endow the
place as memorial of the man.
Pursuing His Researches.
During the long professional career
which the deceased experienced in this
country, he employed his time in busily
pursuing his researches, and for this pur-
pose extensively travelled from Maine to
Lake Superior and California, and south
to Brazil. The California trip was on the
occasion of the United States Coast Sur
vey, in the steamer Hassler, in l87l-72.
The collections which he made on this
trip Amounted to a formidable total and
is rich field for the explorations of future
scientists 1t covers, in some respects,
the whole realm of zoology, including the
natural history of mankind, that of ma
rine mammalia, marine birds, reptiles and
fishes. The number of fishes, mollusks, !
and radiates obtained was es- |
pecially large Some idea of the magni- |
tude of the collection may be gathered |
from Professor Agassiz's statement that
more than $500 gallons of alcohol were
in packing them. For weeks
some of the force at the museum was en-
gagged in preparing and arranging this
Hassler material, and Professor Agassiz
was in hopes that, by next year. he should
be able to state the scientific value and |
Importance of this vast collection. In
some special branches of his chosen work,
Professor Agassiz had devoted much time
Of late, especially to the consideration of
The echinoderms, fossil collection of
which, was procured in Iowa, and also |
he examination of the selacians, or fam
ly of sharks, and he likewise desired to
earn more thoroughly the.relations' of de-
7elopment in birds. For the browning
let of his life he had projected q, gigantic
syntiesis of the various animals Of nat
iral history, which should show more
,lesrly their affnities. He had proposed,
besides his other arduoas labors,E to fur-
lish for the Atlantic Monthly, next year,
series Of articles on evolution, and was
in a review of a German work /
IN the sponges, concerning which thereis
yet SO much conflicting theory. 5.E
The PeniLxese school.
The natural history school ct Penikese
vas dependency of the museum, and
vas originated IN a desire that the stu
Tents might CLEAN from nature itself.tbeir
L. - I L T. l.. Il