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 xii
General Phenomena of Colour - Theory of Heat and Light as producing Colour -
Changes of Colour in Animals produced by Coloured LightClassification of
Organic Colours — Protective Colours - Warning Colours -Sexual Colours -
Typical ...
General Phenomena of Colour - Theory of Heat and Light as producing Colour -
Changes of Colour in Animals produced by Coloured LightClassification of
Organic Colours — Protective Colours - Warning Colours -Sexual Colours -
Typical ...
Page xii
General Phenomena of Colour — Theory of Heat and Light as producing Colour
— Changes of Colour in Animals produced by Coloured Light — Classification of
Organic Colours — Protective Colours — Warning Colours — Sexual Colours ...
General Phenomena of Colour — Theory of Heat and Light as producing Colour
— Changes of Colour in Animals produced by Coloured Light — Classification of
Organic Colours — Protective Colours — Warning Colours — Sexual Colours ...
Page 7
In England the noonday sun in the month of June rarely inconveniences us or
produces any burning of the skin ; while in ... These very different effects ,
produced by the same amount of sun - heat poured upon the earth in different
latitudes is ...
In England the noonday sun in the month of June rarely inconveniences us or
produces any burning of the skin ; while in ... These very different effects ,
produced by the same amount of sun - heat poured upon the earth in different
latitudes is ...
Page 11
... of the solar rays falling upon two given portions of the earth's surface are
exactly equal , yet the sensible and effective heat produced in the two localities
may be very different according as the atmosphere contains much or little vapour
.
... of the solar rays falling upon two given portions of the earth's surface are
exactly equal , yet the sensible and effective heat produced in the two localities
may be very different according as the atmosphere contains much or little vapour
.
Page 15
Yearly faz 78 inches 10 8 8 6 6 4 2 London , Mean of 1860 to 1865 . bearby tall ,
25 inches condensation of a large absolute quantity of atmospheric vapour , so
that copious dews and heavy showers of rain are produced at comparatively high
...
Yearly faz 78 inches 10 8 8 6 6 4 2 London , Mean of 1860 to 1865 . bearby tall ,
25 inches condensation of a large absolute quantity of atmospheric vapour , so
that copious dews and heavy showers of rain are produced at comparatively high
...
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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 |