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 35
... the attention of the wandering butterflies . Uses of Equatorial Forest - trees .---
Amid this immense variety of trees , the natives have found out such as are best
adapted to certain purposes . The wood of some D 2 FLOWERING TRUNKS . 35.
... the attention of the wandering butterflies . Uses of Equatorial Forest - trees .---
Amid this immense variety of trees , the natives have found out such as are best
adapted to certain purposes . The wood of some D 2 FLOWERING TRUNKS . 35.
Page 36
best adapted to certain purposes . The wood of some is light and soft , and is
used for floats or for carving out rude images , stools , and ornaments for boats
and houses . The flat slabs of the buttresses are often used to make paddles .
Some of ...
best adapted to certain purposes . The wood of some is light and soft , and is
used for floats or for carving out rude images , stools , and ornaments for boats
and houses . The flat slabs of the buttresses are often used to make paddles .
Some of ...
Page 39
... creepers are used ; and to serve almost every purpose for which we should
need a rope or a chain , the tropical savage adopts some one of the numerous
forest - ropes which long experience has shown to have qualities best adapted
for it .
... creepers are used ; and to serve almost every purpose for which we should
need a rope or a chain , the tropical savage adopts some one of the numerous
forest - ropes which long experience has shown to have qualities best adapted
for it .
Page 50
Some trees whose bark is especially well adapted for their support are crowded
with them , and these form natural orchid - gardens . Some orchids are
particularly fond of the decaying leaf - stalks of palms or of tree - ferns . Some
grow best ...
Some trees whose bark is especially well adapted for their support are crowded
with them , and these form natural orchid - gardens . Some orchids are
particularly fond of the decaying leaf - stalks of palms or of tree - ferns . Some
grow best ...
Page 53
Perhaps more than any other single type of vegetation , the bamboo seems
specially adapted for the use of half - civilized man in a wild tropical country ; and
the purposes to which it is applied are almost endless . It is a natural column or ...
Perhaps more than any other single type of vegetation , the bamboo seems
specially adapted for the use of half - civilized man in a wild tropical country ; and
the purposes to which it is applied are almost endless . It is a natural column or ...
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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 |