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 34
These are of course shade - loving trees , and their presence effectually prevents
the growth of any young trees of the larger kinds , until , overcome by age and
storms , some monarch of the forest falls down , and , carrying destruction in its
fall ...
These are of course shade - loving trees , and their presence effectually prevents
the growth of any young trees of the larger kinds , until , overcome by age and
storms , some monarch of the forest falls down , and , carrying destruction in its
fall ...
Page 36
Canoes , formed from a trunk hollowed out and spread open under the action of
heat , require one kind of wood , those ... of kinds of timber which will some day
be found to be well adapted to the special requirements of the arts and sciences .
Canoes , formed from a trunk hollowed out and spread open under the action of
heat , require one kind of wood , those ... of kinds of timber which will some day
be found to be well adapted to the special requirements of the arts and sciences .
Page 39
Boats and even large sailing vessels are built , whose planks are entirely
fastened together by this kind of cordage ... For the better kinds of houses ,
smooth and uniform varieties are chosen , so that the beams and rafters can be
bound ...
Boats and even large sailing vessels are built , whose planks are entirely
fastened together by this kind of cordage ... For the better kinds of houses ,
smooth and uniform varieties are chosen , so that the beams and rafters can be
bound ...
Page 45
They are wonderfully light and strong , being formed of a dense pith covered with
a hard rind or bark , and when split up and pegged together serve to make many
kinds of boxes , which , when covered with the broad leaves of a species of ...
They are wonderfully light and strong , being formed of a dense pith covered with
a hard rind or bark , and when split up and pegged together serve to make many
kinds of boxes , which , when covered with the broad leaves of a species of ...
Page 54
The harder and thicker sorts , split and formed with tapering ends , make a very
strong and elastic bow , while a narrow strip of the outer skin of the same is used
for the string , and the slender reed - like kinds make excellent arrows . One of the
...
The harder and thicker sorts , split and formed with tapering ends , make a very
strong and elastic bow , while a narrow strip of the outer skin of the same is used
for the string , and the slender reed - like kinds make excellent arrows . One of 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 |