THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 163 



hunt, and for some years made many investigations dredg- 

 ing and collecting, particularly with his friend Prof. 

 William Stimpson. 



In 1859 he accepted an appointment of surgeon in the 

 U. S. Engineer department at Tortugas ; this gave him an 

 opportunity to enter more fully into his favorite studies. 

 Arriving at Fort Jefferson he began experimental studies 

 and collected hundreds of new and hitherto undescribcd 

 species in almost every branch of the animal (marine) 

 kingdom. These were sent to the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, Harvard and other colleges. 



On the breaking out of the war. Dr. Holder became 

 assistant surgeon in the regular army. He was also health 

 officer of the port. In 1868 he was ordered to Fortress 

 Munroe, Va. In 1870 he resigned to join Prof. A. S. 

 Bickmore in the establishment of the Museum of Natural 

 History, Central Park, New York ; and for years that gen- 

 tleman and himself carried on this great work, and cared 

 for the collections, almost unassisted. During the past 

 few years, he was curator of the department of inverte- 

 brate zoology. 



Dr. Holder was a prolific writer, and while he contrib- 

 uted to many scientific publications, he was always im- 

 pressed with the value, of creating an interest in nature 

 among the masses, as exerting a refining and cultivating 

 influence, and many of his writings tended in this direc- 

 tion. Admitted to membership, Sept. 9, 1846. 



John Clough Holmes died at his office in Detroit, 

 Mich., on Friday, Dec. 16, 1887, of apoplexy. Professor 

 Holmes was born at Salem, Mass., Sept. 26, 1809. He 

 was the son of Capt. Thomas and Anna (Cross) Holmes. 

 He came to Detroit when a young man and found employ- 

 ment in the dry goods store of John Palmer & Son. He 

 was advanced to a partnership interest and continued in 



