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 v
Here graceful palms , here luscious fruits have birth ; The fragrant coffee , life -
sustaining rice , Sweet canes , and wondrous gums , and odorous spice ; While
Flora's choicest treasures crowd the teeming earth . Beside each cot the golden ...
Here graceful palms , here luscious fruits have birth ; The fragrant coffee , life -
sustaining rice , Sweet canes , and wondrous gums , and odorous spice ; While
Flora's choicest treasures crowd the teeming earth . Beside each cot the golden ...
Page xii
VI . THE COLOURS OF PLANTS AND THE ORIGIN OF THE COLOUR - SENSE .
Source of Colouring - matter in Plants - Protective Coloration and Mimicry in
Plants - Attractive Colours of Fruits - Protective Colours of FruitsSeeds how
Protected ...
VI . THE COLOURS OF PLANTS AND THE ORIGIN OF THE COLOUR - SENSE .
Source of Colouring - matter in Plants - Protective Coloration and Mimicry in
Plants - Attractive Colours of Fruits - Protective Colours of FruitsSeeds how
Protected ...
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 ...
Page 18
Plants are all evergreen ; flowers and fruits , although more abundant at certain
seasons , are never altogether absent ; while many annual food - plants as well
as some fruit - trees produce two crops a year . In other cases , more than one ...
Plants are all evergreen ; flowers and fruits , although more abundant at certain
seasons , are never altogether absent ; while many annual food - plants as well
as some fruit - trees produce two crops a year . In other cases , more than one ...
Page 34
... and fallen fruits . 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 .
... and fallen fruits . 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 .
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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 |