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 vi
... the wide landscape's many - tinted sheen . Then Autumn's yellow woods and
days serene ; And when we've gathered in the harvest's treasure , The long
nights bring us round the blazing hearth , The chosen haunt of every social
pleasure .
... the wide landscape's many - tinted sheen . Then Autumn's yellow woods and
days serene ; And when we've gathered in the harvest's treasure , The long
nights bring us round the blazing hearth , The chosen haunt of every social
pleasure .
Page vii
The traveller and the naturalist have combined to praise , and not unfrequently to
exaggerate the charms of tropical life — its heat and light , its superb vegetable
forms , its brilliant tints of flower and bird and insect . Each strange and beautiful ...
The traveller and the naturalist have combined to praise , and not unfrequently to
exaggerate the charms of tropical life — its heat and light , its superb vegetable
forms , its brilliant tints of flower and bird and insect . Each strange and beautiful ...
Page 1
The lengthening or the shortening days , the ever - changing tints of spring ,
summer , and autumn , succeeded by the leafless boughs of winter , are
constantly recurring phenomena which represent to us the established course of
nature .
The lengthening or the shortening days , the ever - changing tints of spring ,
summer , and autumn , succeeded by the leafless boughs of winter , are
constantly recurring phenomena which represent to us the established course of
nature .
Page 67
To quote the words of Mr. Belt : “ Unknown are the autumn tints , the bright
browns and yellows of English woods ; much less the crimsons , purples , and
yellows of Canada , where the dying foliage rivals , nay , excels , the expiring
dolphin in ...
To quote the words of Mr. Belt : “ Unknown are the autumn tints , the bright
browns and yellows of English woods ; much less the crimsons , purples , and
yellows of Canada , where the dying foliage rivals , nay , excels , the expiring
dolphin in ...
Page 75
Mr. Bates thus speaks of a favourite locality on the margin of the lake near Ega : -
“ The number and variety of gaily - tinted butterflies , sporting about in this grove
on sunny days , were so great , that the bright moving flakes of colour gave quite
...
Mr. Bates thus speaks of a favourite locality on the margin of the lake near Ega : -
“ The number and variety of gaily - tinted butterflies , sporting about in this grove
on sunny days , were so great , that the bright moving flakes of colour gave quite
...
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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 |