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
Results 1-5 of 37
Page v
LAND of the Sun ! where joyous green - robed Spring And leaf - crowned
Summer deck the Earth for ever ; No Winter stern their sweet embrace to sever
And numb to silence every living thing , But bird and insect ever on the wing ,
Flitting ' mid ...
LAND of the Sun ! where joyous green - robed Spring And leaf - crowned
Summer deck the Earth for ever ; No Winter stern their sweet embrace to sever
And numb to silence every living thing , But bird and insect ever on the wing ,
Flitting ' mid ...
Page xiii
Introductory Remarks — ON SOME RELATIONS OF LIVING THINGS TO THEIR
ENVIRONMENT . — The Influence of Locality on Colour in Butterflies and Birds -
Sense - perception influenced by Colour of the IntegumentsRelations of Insular ...
Introductory Remarks — ON SOME RELATIONS OF LIVING THINGS TO THEIR
ENVIRONMENT . — The Influence of Locality on Colour in Butterflies and Birds -
Sense - perception influenced by Colour of the IntegumentsRelations of Insular ...
Page 48
Sometimes they form clusters of foliage on living or dead trees to which they cling
by their aerial roots . Others climb up the smooth bark of large trees , sending out
roots as they 48 TROPICAL NATURE , AND OTHER ESSAYS .
Sometimes they form clusters of foliage on living or dead trees to which they cling
by their aerial roots . Others climb up the smooth bark of large trees , sending out
roots as they 48 TROPICAL NATURE , AND OTHER ESSAYS .
Page 52
A fine clump of large bamboos is perhaps the most graceful of all vegetable forms
, resembling the light and airy plumes of the birdof - paradise copied on a
gigantic scale in living foliage . Such clumps are often eighty or a hundred feet
bigh ...
A fine clump of large bamboos is perhaps the most graceful of all vegetable forms
, resembling the light and airy plumes of the birdof - paradise copied on a
gigantic scale in living foliage . Such clumps are often eighty or a hundred feet
bigh ...
Page 61
My own observations in the Aru Islands for six months , and in Borneo for more
than a year , while living almost wholly in the forests , are quite in accordance
with this view . Conspicuous masses of showy flowers are so rare , that weeks
and ...
My own observations in the Aru Islands for six months , and in Borneo for more
than a year , while living almost wholly in the forests , are quite in accordance
with this view . Conspicuous masses of showy flowers are so rare , that weeks
and ...
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Other editions - View all
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 |