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 xi
The Equatorial Forest - belt and its Causes — General Features of the Equatorial
Forests -- Low - growth Forest - trees — Flowery Trunks and their Probable
Cause — Uses of Equatorial Forest - trees-- The Climbing Plants of the
Equatorial ...
The Equatorial Forest - belt and its Causes — General Features of the Equatorial
Forests -- Low - growth Forest - trees — Flowery Trunks and their Probable
Cause — Uses of Equatorial Forest - trees-- The Climbing Plants of the
Equatorial ...
Page 18
Plants are all evergreen ; flowers and fruits , although more abundant at certain
seasons , are never altogether absent ; while many annual food - plants as well
as some fruit - trees produce two crops a year . In other cases , more than one ...
Plants are all evergreen ; flowers and fruits , although more abundant at certain
seasons , are never altogether absent ; while many annual food - plants as well
as some fruit - trees produce two crops a year . In other cases , more than one ...
Page 19
The open sandy country with scattered trees and shrubs or occasional thickets ,
which is found at Santarem and Monte - Alegre on the lower Amazon , are
examples , as well as the open cultivated plains of Southern Celebes ; but in both
cases ...
The open sandy country with scattered trees and shrubs or occasional thickets ,
which is found at Santarem and Monte - Alegre on the lower Amazon , are
examples , as well as the open cultivated plains of Southern Celebes ; but in both
cases ...
Page 25
The whole eastern horizon would become almost suddenly black , and this would
spread upwards , the sun at length becoming obscured . Then the rush of a
mighty wind is heard through the forest , swaying the tree - tops ; a vivid flash of ...
The whole eastern horizon would become almost suddenly black , and this would
spread upwards , the sun at length becoming obscured . Then the rush of a
mighty wind is heard through the forest , swaying the tree - tops ; a vivid flash of ...
Page 26
Meantime all nature is refreshed ; but heaps of flower - petals and fallen leaves
are seen under the trees . Towards evening life revives again , and the ringing
uproar is resumed from bush and tree . The following morning the sun again rises
in ...
Meantime all nature is refreshed ; but heaps of flower - petals and fallen leaves
are seen under the trees . Towards evening life revives again , and the ringing
uproar is resumed from bush and tree . The following morning the sun again rises
in ...
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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 |