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 ix
The remaining chapters have all a more or less direct connection with the leading
subject . The family of humming - birds is taken as an illustration of the luxuriant
development of allied forms in the tropics , and as showing the special mode in ...
The remaining chapters have all a more or less direct connection with the leading
subject . The family of humming - birds is taken as an illustration of the luxuriant
development of allied forms in the tropics , and as showing the special mode in ...
Page 4
... being situated between six and seven degrees south of the equator , may be
taken as affording a fair example of the climate of the equatorial zone ; though ,
being in an island , it is somewhat less extreme than many continental localities .
... being situated between six and seven degrees south of the equator , may be
taken as affording a fair example of the climate of the equatorial zone ; though ,
being in an island , it is somewhat less extreme than many continental localities .
Page 8
... not less than from thirty to forty feet , and with us it is probably fifty or sixty feet ,
and the temperature found there is nearly forty degrees lower than at the equator
. This great body of cool earth absorbs a large portion of the surface heat during ...
... not less than from thirty to forty feet , and with us it is probably fifty or sixty feet ,
and the temperature found there is nearly forty degrees lower than at the equator
. This great body of cool earth absorbs a large portion of the surface heat during ...
Page 13
If now both are left to be supplied by the above - mentioned pipes the result will
be , that in the one which loses by leakage less than it receives the water will rise
day by day , till the increased pressure caused the leakage to SUPPLY AND ...
If now both are left to be supplied by the above - mentioned pipes the result will
be , that in the one which loses by leakage less than it receives the water will rise
day by day , till the increased pressure caused the leakage to SUPPLY AND ...
Page 17
... landsurface there will be a considerable balance of condensation over
evaporation which must tend to the general raising of the temperature , and ,
owing to the condensation being principally at night , not less powerfully to its
equalisation .
... landsurface there will be a considerable balance of condensation over
evaporation which must tend to the general raising of the temperature , and ,
owing to the condensation being principally at night , not less powerfully to its
equalisation .
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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 |