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 v
LAND of the Sun ! where joyous green - robed Spring And leaf - crowned
Summer deck the Earth for ever ; No Winter stern their sweet embrace to sever
And numb to silence every living thing , But bird and insect ever on the wing ,
Flitting ' mid ...
LAND of the Sun ! where joyous green - robed Spring And leaf - crowned
Summer deck the Earth for ever ; No Winter stern their sweet embrace to sever
And numb to silence every living thing , But bird and insect ever on the wing ,
Flitting ' mid ...
Page 22
... and waking up all nature to life and activity . Birds chirp and flutter about ,
parrots scream , monkeys chatter , bees hum among the flowers , and gorgeous
butterflies flutter lazily along or sit with fully expanded wings exposed to the warm
and ...
... and waking up all nature to life and activity . Birds chirp and flutter about ,
parrots scream , monkeys chatter , bees hum among the flowers , and gorgeous
butterflies flutter lazily along or sit with fully expanded wings exposed to the warm
and ...
Page 31
... as if their bases were concealed by accumulations of the soil ; others get much
thicker near the ground like our spreading oaks ; others again , and these are
very characteristic , send out towards the base flat and wing - like projections .
... as if their bases were concealed by accumulations of the soil ; others get much
thicker near the ground like our spreading oaks ; others again , and these are
very characteristic , send out towards the base flat and wing - like projections .
Page 73
A considerable proportion of the species are very large , six to eight inches
across the wings being not uncommon among the Papilionidæ and Morphidæ ,
while several species are even larger . This great expanse of wings is
accompanied by ...
A considerable proportion of the species are very large , six to eight inches
across the wings being not uncommon among the Papilionidæ and Morphidæ ,
while several species are even larger . This great expanse of wings is
accompanied by ...
Page 74
The form of the wings , again , often attracts attention . Tailed hind - wings occur
in almost all the families , but vary much in character . In some the tails are
broadly spoon - shaped , in others long and pointed . Many have double or triple
tails ...
The form of the wings , again , often attracts attention . Tailed hind - wings occur
in almost all the families , but vary much in character . In some the tails are
broadly spoon - shaped , in others long and pointed . Many have double or triple
tails ...
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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 |