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 4
... Fahr . being sometimes reached with us and not being often very much
exceeded at Batavia . 1 “ Observations Made at the Magnetical and
Meteorological Observatory at Batavia . Published by order of the Government of
Netherlands India .
... Fahr . being sometimes reached with us and not being often very much
exceeded at Batavia . 1 “ Observations Made at the Magnetical and
Meteorological Observatory at Batavia . Published by order of the Government of
Netherlands India .
Page 10
... of heat is far beyond anything experienced near the equator , yet , owing to the
extreme dryness of the atmosphere , the clear nights are very cold , radiation
being sometimes so rapid that water placed in shallow pans becomes frozen
over .
... of heat is far beyond anything experienced near the equator , yet , owing to the
extreme dryness of the atmosphere , the clear nights are very cold , radiation
being sometimes so rapid that water placed in shallow pans becomes frozen
over .
Page 12
Whenever , as is sometimes the case , exceptional cold occurs near the equator ,
it can almost always be traced to the influence of currents of air of unusually low
temperature . Thus in July near the Aru islands , the writer experienced a strong ...
Whenever , as is sometimes the case , exceptional cold occurs near the equator ,
it can almost always be traced to the influence of currents of air of unusually low
temperature . Thus in July near the Aru islands , the writer experienced a strong ...
Page 21
Travellers usually exaggerate the shortness of the tropical twilight , it being
sometimes said that if we turn a page of the book we are reading when the sun
disappears , by the time we turn over the next page it will be too dark to see to
read .
Travellers usually exaggerate the shortness of the tropical twilight , it being
sometimes said that if we turn a page of the book we are reading when the sun
disappears , by the time we turn over the next page it will be too dark to see to
read .
Page 27
Lofty peaks and precipitous ridges are sometimes bare , but often the woody
covering continues to a height of eight or ten thousand feet , as in some of the
volcanic mountains.
Lofty peaks and precipitous ridges are sometimes bare , but often the woody
covering continues to a height of eight or ten thousand feet , as in some of the
volcanic mountains.
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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 |