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. |
From inside the book
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Page v
... embrace to sever And numb to silence every living thing , But bird and insect
ever on the wing , Flitting ' mid forest glades and tangled bowers , While the life -
giving orb's effulgent beams Through all the circling year call forth the flowers .
... embrace to sever And numb to silence every living thing , But bird and insect
ever on the wing , Flitting ' mid forest glades and tangled bowers , While the life -
giving orb's effulgent beams Through all the circling year call forth the flowers .
Page vi
Winter cold and stern , Fair Spring with budding leaf and opening flower , And
Summer when the sun's creative power Brings leafy groves and glades of
feathery fern , The glorious blossoms of sweet - scented May , The flowery
hedgerows ...
Winter cold and stern , Fair Spring with budding leaf and opening flower , And
Summer when the sun's creative power Brings leafy groves and glades of
feathery fern , The glorious blossoms of sweet - scented May , The flowery
hedgerows ...
Page xi
... Ferns – Ginger - worts and Wild Bananas - Arums - Screw - PinesOrchids --
Bamboos – Uses of the Bamboo --- Mangroves - Sensitive - plants --Comparative
Scarcity of Flowers - Concluding Remarks on Tropical Vegetation pages 27-68 III
.
... Ferns – Ginger - worts and Wild Bananas - Arums - Screw - PinesOrchids --
Bamboos – Uses of the Bamboo --- Mangroves - Sensitive - plants --Comparative
Scarcity of Flowers - Concluding Remarks on Tropical Vegetation pages 27-68 III
.
Page xii
... Attractive Colours of Flowers - Attractive Odours in Flowers - Attractive
Grouping in Flowers — Why Alpine Flowers are ... Allied Species of Flowers differ
in Size and BeautyAbsence of Colours in Wind - fertilized Flowers — The same
Theory ...
... Attractive Colours of Flowers - Attractive Odours in Flowers - Attractive
Grouping in Flowers — Why Alpine Flowers are ... Allied Species of Flowers differ
in Size and BeautyAbsence of Colours in Wind - fertilized Flowers — The same
Theory ...
Page xii
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 ...
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 ...
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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 |