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 13
The cause of the striking contrast between the climates of equatorial and
temperate lands at times when both are receiving an approximately equal
amount of solar heat may perhaps be made clearer by an illustration . Let us
suppose there to ...
The cause of the striking contrast between the climates of equatorial and
temperate lands at times when both are receiving an approximately equal
amount of solar heat may perhaps be made clearer by an illustration . Let us
suppose there to ...
Page 16
It may perhaps be objected , that evaporation must absorb as much heat as is
afterwards liberated by condensation , and this is true ; but as evaporation and
condensation occur usually at different times and in different places , the
equalising ...
It may perhaps be objected , that evaporation must absorb as much heat as is
afterwards liberated by condensation , and this is true ; but as evaporation and
condensation occur usually at different times and in different places , the
equalising ...
Page 22
In the morning the changes are perhaps even more striking . Up to about a
quarter past five o'clock the darkness is complete ; but about that time a few cries
of birds begin to break the silence of night , perhaps indicating that signs of dawn
are ...
In the morning the changes are perhaps even more striking . Up to about a
quarter past five o'clock the darkness is complete ; but about that time a few cries
of birds begin to break the silence of night , perhaps indicating that signs of dawn
are ...
Page 30
Overhead , at a height , perhaps , of a hundred feet , is an almost unbroken
canopy of foliage formed by the meeting together of these great trees and their
interlacing branches ; and this canopy is usually so dense that but an indistinct
glimmer ...
Overhead , at a height , perhaps , of a hundred feet , is an almost unbroken
canopy of foliage formed by the meeting together of these great trees and their
interlacing branches ; and this canopy is usually so dense that but an indistinct
glimmer ...
Page 31
... lofty a column crowned by a broad and massive head of branches and foliage .
The buttressed trees belong to a variety of distinct groups . Thus , many of the
Bombaceæ or silk - cotton trees , several of the Leguminosæ , and perhaps many
...
... lofty a column crowned by a broad and massive head of branches and foliage .
The buttressed trees belong to a variety of distinct groups . Thus , many of the
Bombaceæ or silk - cotton trees , several of the Leguminosæ , and perhaps many
...
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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 |