1882. - 47 Trans. N. Y. Ac. Scz. 
March 27, 1882. 
SECTION OF PHYSICS. 
The President, Dr. J. S. NEwBErry, in the Chair. 
Mr. GEORGE F. Kunz showed specimens of marine shells (/ec- 
tunculus, etc.,) from “Aztec” ruins, near Salt River, Arizona, 
curiously cut or ground into ornamental articles, by the ancient oc- 
cupants of that region. 
The PRESIDENT read some notes fees by Dr. J. B. HoLper, 
in reference to the whale on exhibition at the foot of Wall street, 
recently captured off Montauk. He was disposed to regard it as a 
specimen of Eubalena Sieboldit, a species belonging to the North 
Pacific ; and, in this ease, it would seem that the animal must have 
reached this coast by making the “northwest passage.” 
Mr. ARTHUR H. EL.iot7T reported for the committee appointed 
to prepare a memorial of the late Dr. HoOLLEy; he read the follow- 
ing paper, which was adopted by the society and ordered to be pub- 
lished in the transactions : 
In Memoriam. 
ALEXANDER LYMAN HOLLEY, the widely esteemed fellow of the 
New York Academy of Sciences, was born at Lakeville, Conn., July 
20, 1832. His father was once Governor of the State, and still lives at 
Lakeville, at the age of 77. The son, at anearly age, conceived a 
passion for the profession that was ultimately to make him famous, and 
learned the trade of a machinist. He was prepared for Yale Col- 
lege; but, having a scientific turn, he entered Brown University, and 
graduated from the scientific department in 1853, at the age of twenty- 
one. His graduating address, on ‘‘ Motive Power,” shows that he was 
still true to his first tastes for engineering and its branches. After 
graduation, he entered the Corliss Works at Providence, R. I., in the 
double capacity of workman and student ; and afterward became a loco- 
motive engineer on the Stonington and Providence railroad. From this 
position, he went to the New York Locomotive Works of BREEsE, 
KNEILAND & CoO., at Jersey City,as draughtsman ; and became a con- 
tributor to several technical journals. In 1856, he was owner and 
editor of the Razlway Advccate. In 1857, he went to Europe to study 
railroad practice there; and in 1858, he published, in connection with 
ZERAH COLBURN, their celebrated book on European railroads. During 
this time Mr. HOLLEY was an active professional writer for the New 
York Zzmes, and foretold at that day the supersedure of the side-wheel 
