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CONTENTS.
I. THE CLIMATE AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE EQUATORIAL ZONE.
The three Climatal Zones of the Earth-Temperature of the Equatorial
Zone-Causes of the Uniform High Temperature near the Equator-
Influence of the Heat of the Soil-Influence of the Aqueous Vapour of
the Atmosphere-Influence of Winds on the Temperature of the Equator
-Heat due to the Condensation of Atmospheric Vapour-General
Features of the Equatorial Climate-Uniformity of the Equatorial Cli-
mate in all Parts of the Globe-Effects of Vegetation on Climate-Short
Twilight of the Equatorial Zone-The Aspect of the Equatorial Heavens
-Intensity of Meteorological Phenomena at the Equator-Concluding
Remarks .
pages 1-26
II. EQUATORIAL VEGETATION.
The Equatorial Forest-belt and its Causes-General Features of the Equa-
torial Forests-Low-growth Forest-trees-Flowery Trunks and their
Probable Cause-Uses of Equatorial Forest-trees--The Climbing Plants
of the Equatorial Forests-Palms-Uses of Palm-trees and their Pro-
ducts-Ferns-Ginger-worts and Wild Bananas-Arums-Screw-Pines-
Orchids-Bamboos-Uses of the Bamboo-Mangroves-Sensitive-plants
-Comparative Scarcity of Flowers-Concluding Remarks on Tropical
Vegetation.
pages 27-68
.
III. ANIMAL LIFE IN THE TROPICAL FORESTS.
Difficulties of the Subject-General Aspect of the Animal Life of Equatorial
Forests-Diurnal Lepidoptera or Butterflies-Peculiar Habits of Tropical
Butterflies-Ants, Wasps, and Bees-Ants-Special Relations between
Ants and Vegetation-Wasps and Bees-Orthoptera and other Insects-
Beetles-Wingless Insects-General Observations on Tropical Insects—
Birds-Parrots-Pigeons-Picaria-Cuckoos-Trogons, Barbets, Toucans
and Hornbills-Passeres-Reptiles and Amphibia-Lizards-Snakes—
Frogs and Toads-Mammalia-Monkeys-Bats-Summary of the Aspects
of Animal Life in the Tropics.
pages 69-123
IV. HUMMING-BIRDS: AS ILLUSTRATING THE LUXURIANCE OF
TROPICAL NATURE.
Structure-Colours and Ornaments-Descriptive Names-The Motions and
Habits of Humming-Birds-Display of Ornaments by the Male-Food
-Geographical Distribution and Variation-Humming-Birds of Juan
Fernandez as illustrating Variation and Natural Selection-The Relations
and Affinities of Humming-Birds-How to Determine Doubtful Affinities
-Resemblances of Swifts and Humming-Birds-Differences between
Sun-Birds and Humming-Birds
pages 124-157
V. THE COLOURS OF ANIMALS AND SEXUAL SELECTION.
General Phenomena of Colour-Theory of Heat and Light as producing
Colour-Changes of Colour in Animals produced by Coloured Light—
Classification of Organic Colours-Protective Colours-Warning Colours
-Sexual Colours-Typical Colours-The Nature of Colour-How Animal
Colours are Produced-Colour a Normal Product of Organization-Theory
of Protective Colours-Theory of Warning Colours-Imitative Warning
Colours-The Theory of Mimicry-Theory of Sexual Colours-Colour
as a Means of Recognition-Colour proportionate to Integumentary
Development-Selection by Females not a Cause of Colour-Probable Use
of the Horns of Beetles-Cause of the greater Brilliancy of some Female
Insects-Origin of the Ornamental Plumage of Male Birds-Theory of
the Display of Ornaments by Males-Natural Selection as neutralizing
Sexual Selection-Greater Brilliancy of some Female Birds-Colour-
development as illustrated by Humming-Birds-Theory of Typical Colours
-Local Causes of Colour-development-Summary on Colour-development
in Animals-Concluding Remarks on Causes of Bright Colour in the
Tropics.
pages 158-220
VI. THE COLOURS OF PLANTS AND THE ORIGIN OF THE COLOUR-SENSE.
Source of Colouring-matter in Plants-Protective Coloration and Mimicry
in Plants-Attractive Colours of Fruits-Protective Colours of Fruits-
Seeds how Protected-Attractive Colours of Flowers-Attractive Odours
in Flowers—Attractive Grouping in Flowers-Why Alpine Flowers are so
Beautiful-Why Allied Species of Flowers differ in Size and Beauty-
Absence of Colours in Wind-fertilized Flowers-The same Theory of
Colour applicable to Animals and Plants-Relation of the Colours of
Flowers and their Geographical Distribution-Recent Views as to the
Direct Action of Light on the Colours of Flowers and Fruits-Concluding
Remarks on the Importance of Colour in the Organic World—The Origin
OF THE COLOUR-SENSE.-Supposed Increase of Colour-perception within
the Historical Period--Concluding Remarks on the Colour-sense
pages 221-248
VII. BY-PATHS IN THE DOMAIN OF BIOLOGY.
BEING AN ADDRESS DELIVERED TO THE BIOLOGICAL SECTION OF THE BRITISH
ASSOCIATION (GLASGOW; SEPTEMBER 6TH, 1876) AS PRESIDENT OF THE
SECTION.
Introductory Remarks-ON SOME RELATIONS OF LIVING THINGs to their
ENVIRONMENT.-The Influence of Locality on Colour in Butterflies and
Birds-Sense-perception influenced by Colour of the Integuments-
Relations of Insular Plants and Insects-RISE AND PROGRESS OF
MODERN VIEWS AS TO THE ANTIQUITY AND ORIGIN OF MAN-Indica-
tions of Man's Extreme Antiquity-Antiquity of Intellectual Man-
Sculptures on Easter-Island-North American Earthworks-The Great
Pyramid-Conclusion
pages 249-303
VIII. THE DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS AS INDICATING GEOGRAPHICAL
CHANGES.
Old Opinions on Continental Changes-Theory of Oceanic Islands-Present
and Past Distribution of Land and Sea-Zoological Regions-The Pala-
arctic Region-The Ethiopian Region-The Oriental Region-Past changes
of the Great Eastern Continent-Regions of the New World-Past His-
tory of the American Continents-The Australian Region-Summary
and Conclusion pages 304-347
TROPICAL NATURE,
AND OTHER ESSAYS.