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 iii
... TO THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION , " ETC. , ETC. 1 London :
MACMILLAN AND CO . 1878 . [ The Right of Translation and Reproduction is
Reserved . ] mosm QH 왜 84.5 W 19 LONDON : R. CLAY TROPICAL NATURE ,
... TO THE THEORY OF NATURAL SELECTION , " ETC. , ETC. 1 London :
MACMILLAN AND CO . 1878 . [ The Right of Translation and Reproduction is
Reserved . ] mosm QH 왜 84.5 W 19 LONDON : R. CLAY TROPICAL NATURE ,
Page vii
The luxuriance and beauty of Tropical Nature is a well - worn theme , and there is
little new to say about it . The traveller and the naturalist have combined to praise
, and not unfrequently to exaggerate the charms of tropical life — its heat and ...
The luxuriance and beauty of Tropical Nature is a well - worn theme , and there is
little new to say about it . The traveller and the naturalist have combined to praise
, and not unfrequently to exaggerate the charms of tropical life — its heat and ...
Page ix
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
which natural selection has acted to bring about considerable changes in a
limited period .
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
which natural selection has acted to bring about considerable changes in a
limited period .
Page xii
Alfred Russel Wallace. IV . HUMMING - BIRDS : As ILLUSTRATING THE
LUXURIANCE OF TROPICAL NATURE . Structure - Colours and Ornaments —
Descriptive Names — The Motions and Habits of Humming - Birds - Display of
Ornaments ...
Alfred Russel Wallace. IV . HUMMING - BIRDS : As ILLUSTRATING THE
LUXURIANCE OF TROPICAL NATURE . Structure - Colours and Ornaments —
Descriptive Names — The Motions and Habits of Humming - Birds - Display of
Ornaments ...
Page xiii
... Past changes of the Great Eastern Continent - Regions of the New World —
Past History of the American Continents — The Australian Region - Summary
and Conclusion pages 30-347 TROPICAL NATURE , AND OTHER ESSAYS .
... Past changes of the Great Eastern Continent - Regions of the New World —
Past History of the American Continents — The Australian Region - Summary
and Conclusion pages 30-347 TROPICAL NATURE , AND OTHER ESSAYS .
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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 |