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
Towards the south the Southern Cross , the Magellanic clouds , and the jet -
black “ coal sacks ” most conspicuous objects invisible in our northern latitudes .
The same cause that brings the sun overhead in its daily march equally affects
the ...
Towards the south the Southern Cross , the Magellanic clouds , and the jet -
black “ coal sacks ” most conspicuous objects invisible in our northern latitudes .
The same cause that brings the sun overhead in its daily march equally affects
the ...
Page 34
More frequently it is covered with a dense carpet of selaginella or other
lycopodiaceæ , and these sometimes give place to a variety of herbaceous plants
, sometimes with pretty , but rarely with very conspicuous flowers . Flowering
Trunks and ...
More frequently it is covered with a dense carpet of selaginella or other
lycopodiaceæ , and these sometimes give place to a variety of herbaceous plants
, sometimes with pretty , but rarely with very conspicuous flowers . Flowering
Trunks and ...
Page 35
... flowers should be low down and conspicuous . If they grew in the usual way on
the tops of these smaller trees overshadowed by the dense canopy above them
they would be out of sight of both groups of insects , but being placed openly on ...
... flowers should be low down and conspicuous . If they grew in the usual way on
the tops of these smaller trees overshadowed by the dense canopy above them
they would be out of sight of both groups of insects , but being placed openly on ...
Page 37
—Next to the trees themselves the most conspicuous and remarkable feature of
the tropical forests is the profusion of woody creepers and climbers that
everywhere meet the eye . They twist around the slenderer stems , they drop
down ...
—Next to the trees themselves the most conspicuous and remarkable feature of
the tropical forests is the profusion of woody creepers and climbers that
everywhere meet the eye . They twist around the slenderer stems , they drop
down ...
Page 40
On river - banks they are especially conspicuous and elegant , bending
gracefully over the stream , their fine foliage waving in the breeze , and their
stems often draped with hanging creepers . The chief feature of the palm tribe
consists in the ...
On river - banks they are especially conspicuous and elegant , bending
gracefully over the stream , their fine foliage waving in the breeze , and their
stems often draped with hanging creepers . The chief feature of the palm tribe
consists in the ...
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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 |