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 23
The grand constellation Orion , passes vertically overhead , while the Great Bear
is only to be seen low down in the northern heavens , and the Pole star either
appears close to the horizon or has altogether disappeared according as we are
...
The grand constellation Orion , passes vertically overhead , while the Great Bear
is only to be seen low down in the northern heavens , and the Pole star either
appears close to the horizon or has altogether disappeared according as we are
...
Page 25
White clouds would appear in the east and gather into cumuli , with an increasing
blackness along their lower portions . The whole eastern horizon would become
almost suddenly black , and this would spread upwards , the sun at length ...
White clouds would appear in the east and gather into cumuli , with an increasing
blackness along their lower portions . The whole eastern horizon would become
almost suddenly black , and this would spread upwards , the sun at length ...
Page 33
131 ) —and the equally remarkable fig - trees of various species , whose trunks
are formed by a miniature forest of aerial roots , sometimes separate , sometimes
matted together , are characteristic of the Eastern tropics , but appear to be rare ...
131 ) —and the equally remarkable fig - trees of various species , whose trunks
are formed by a miniature forest of aerial roots , sometimes separate , sometimes
matted together , are characteristic of the Eastern tropics , but appear to be rare ...
Page 52
The gigantic grasses called bamboos can hardly be classed as typical plants of
the tropical zone , because they appear to be absent from the entire African
continent and are comparatively scarce in South America . They also extend
beyond ...
The gigantic grasses called bamboos can hardly be classed as typical plants of
the tropical zone , because they appear to be absent from the entire African
continent and are comparatively scarce in South America . They also extend
beyond ...
Page 90
... and the existence of the destructive leaf - cutting ant in America will thus
explain why these specially modified plants are so much more abundant there
than in the Old World , where no ants with equally destructive habits appear to
exist .
... and the existence of the destructive leaf - cutting ant in America will thus
explain why these specially modified plants are so much more abundant there
than in the Old World , where no ants with equally destructive habits appear to
exist .
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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 |