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. |
From inside the book
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Page 2
... peculiarities which distinguish the equatorial from the temperate climate , and
to explain the causes of the difference between them , -causes which are by no
means of so simple a nature as are usually imagined . The three great divisions
of ...
... peculiarities which distinguish the equatorial from the temperate climate , and
to explain the causes of the difference between them , -causes which are by no
means of so simple a nature as are usually imagined . The three great divisions
of ...
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 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 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 61
... that weeks and months may be passed without observing a single flowering
plant worthy of special admiration . Occasionally some tree or shrub will be seen
covered with magnificent yellow , or crimson , or purple flowers , but it is usually
an ...
... that weeks and months may be passed without observing a single flowering
plant worthy of special admiration . Occasionally some tree or shrub will be seen
covered with magnificent yellow , or crimson , or purple flowers , but it is usually
an ...
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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 |