Tropical Nature, and Other EssaysSometimes referred to as 'the grand old man of science', Alfred Russel Wallace (1823-1913) was a naturalist, evolutionary theorist, and friend of Charles Darwin. In this study of tropical flora and fauna, he takes the reader on a tour of the equatorial forest belt - the almost continuous band of forest that stretches around the world between the tropics. There, chameleon-like caterpillars alter the colours of their cocoons, parasitical trees override their hosts with spectacular aerial root systems, and some of the most pressing questions of Victorian evolutionary science arise: how do animals and plants come to be brightly coloured? Can their adaptations provide clues about past geological eras? And was Darwin wholly correct in his theory of sexual selection? First published in 1878, Wallace's book is a skilfully written reflection of contemporary naturalism, still highly readable and relevant to students in the history of science. |
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Page 2
... and during the other half the south pole , is turned at a considerable angle
towards the source of light and heat . This inclination of the axis on which the
earth rotates is usually defined by the inclination of the equator to the plane of the
orbit ...
... and during the other half the south pole , is turned at a considerable angle
towards the source of light and heat . This inclination of the axis on which the
earth rotates is usually defined by the inclination of the equator to the plane of the
orbit ...
Page 3
For the temperate zone we may take all countries situated between 359 and 60 °
of latitude , which in Europe will include every place between Christiana and
Algiers , the districts further south forming a transitional belt in which temperate
and ...
For the temperate zone we may take all countries situated between 359 and 60 °
of latitude , which in Europe will include every place between Christiana and
Algiers , the districts further south forming a transitional belt in which temperate
and ...
Page 4
Batavia , being situated between six and seven degrees south of the equator ,
may be taken as affording a fair example of the climate of the equatorial zone ;
though , being in an island , it is somewhat less extreme than many continental ...
Batavia , being situated between six and seven degrees south of the equator ,
may be taken as affording a fair example of the climate of the equatorial zone ;
though , being in an island , it is somewhat less extreme than many continental ...
Page 6
The island of Java is situated in from six and a half to eight and a half degrees of
south latitude , and in the month of June the sun's altitude at noon will not be
more than from 58 ° to 60 ° . In the same month at London , which is fifty - two and
a ...
The island of Java is situated in from six and a half to eight and a half degrees of
south latitude , and in the month of June the sun's altitude at noon will not be
more than from 58 ° to 60 ° . In the same month at London , which is fifty - two and
a ...
Page 11
This warming of the air is rendered more certain and more effective by the
circumstance , that all currents of air coming from the north or south have their
direction changed owing to the increasing rapidity of the earth's rotational velocity
, so that ...
This warming of the air is rendered more certain and more effective by the
circumstance , that all currents of air coming from the north or south have their
direction changed owing to the increasing rapidity of the earth's rotational velocity
, so that ...
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Common terms and phrases
abundant adapted Africa allied America animals ants appear attract beautiful become believe birds blue butterflies causes changes character characteristic climate closely colour comparatively completely consider considerable conspicuous continent curious Darwin direct distinct distribution effect equally equatorial evidence existence extensive extreme fact families feet female fertilization flowers foliage forests fruits genera give greater green ground groups habits heat humming-birds important increase inhabit insects islands kinds known land larger leaves less light living male marked mass means nature North objects observed occur organic ornaments peculiar perhaps period plants possess present probably produced proportion protection rarely rays region relation remains remarkable resemble seems seen selection sometimes South species structure surface temperate temperature theory tints trees tropical types usually variation varied variety various vegetation whole wings yellow zone
Bibliographic information
| Title | Tropical Nature, and Other Essays Marilee E. Thomas and Robert C. Thomas Science and Related Subjects Collection |
| Author | Alfred Russel Wallace |
| Publisher | Macmillan and Company, 1878 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | 23 veeb. 2009 |
| Length | 356 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |