Tropical Nature, and Other EssaysRead Books Ltd, 25. mai 2016 - 418 pages This early work by Alfred Russel Wallace was originally published in 1878 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. 'Tropical Nature, and Other Essays' is a collection of essays including Wallace's observations on equatorial vegetation, animal life, and sexual. Alfred Russel Wallace was born on 8th January 1823 in the village of Llanbadoc, in Monmouthshire, Wales. Wallace was inspired by the travelling naturalists of the day and decided to begin his exploration career collecting specimens in the Amazon rainforest. He explored the Rio Negra for four years, making notes on the peoples and languages he encountered as well as the geography, flora, and fauna. While travelling, Wallace refined his thoughts about evolution and in 1858 he outlined his theory of natural selection in an article he sent to Charles Darwin. Wallace made a huge contribution to the natural sciences and he will continue to be remembered as one of the key figures in the development of evolutionary theory. |
From inside the book
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... Observations made at Para, which is continental and close to the equator, agree however very closely with those at Batavia; but at the latter place all the observations were made with extreme care and with the best instruments, and are ...
... Observations made at Para, which is continental and close to the equator, agree however very closely with those at Batavia; but at the latter place all the observations were made with extreme care and with the best instruments, and are ...
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... observations show, that for ten months in the year the average direction of the wind varies only between 5° and 30° from due east or west, and these are also the strongest winds. In the two months—March and October—when the winds are.
... observations show, that for ten months in the year the average direction of the wind varies only between 5° and 30° from due east or west, and these are also the strongest winds. In the two months—March and October—when the winds are.
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... observed in such districts. The almost rainless district of Ceara on the NorthEast coast of Brazil and only a few degrees south of the equator, is a striking example of the need of vegetation to react on the rainfall. We have here no ...
... observed in such districts. The almost rainless district of Ceara on the NorthEast coast of Brazil and only a few degrees south of the equator, is a striking example of the need of vegetation to react on the rainfall. We have here no ...
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... observed to have grown many inches since the preceding day. The temperature is the most delicious conceivable. The ... observation of the very short shadows of vertical objects. The absence of distinct horizontal shadows at noon which ...
... observed to have grown many inches since the preceding day. The temperature is the most delicious conceivable. The ... observation of the very short shadows of vertical objects. The absence of distinct horizontal shadows at noon which ...
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... observe. First, the cool seabreeze which had commenced to blow about ten o'clock, and which had increased in force with the increasing power of the sun, would flag, and finally die away. The heat and electric tension of the atmosphere ...
... observe. First, the cool seabreeze which had commenced to blow about ten o'clock, and which had increased in force with the increasing power of the sun, would flag, and finally die away. The heat and electric tension of the atmosphere ...
Contents
ANIMAL LIFE IN THE TROPICAL FORESTS | |
THE COLOURS OF ANIMALS AND SEXUAL SELECTION | |
THE COLOURS OF PLANTS AND THE ORIGIN OF | |
THE DISTRIBUTION OF ANIMALS AS INDICATING | |
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Common terms and phrases
abundant adapted Africa allied Amazon animals ants Asia attract bamboo Batavia beautiful become birds blue brilliant butterflies carnivora causes changes characteristic climate colour Colours of Animals comparatively conspicuous continent curious Danaidæ Darwin distinct distribution earth Eocene equator equatorial zone existence extensive fact families fauna favourable feet female ferns fertilization flowers foliage foresttrees fruits genera genus greater green groups habits heat hummingbirds hyænas immense inhabit insects islands Juan Fernandez land larger larvæ leaves lemurs less light Madagascar Malay Malay Archipelago male mammalia marsupials Miocene monkeys natural selection North northern observed occur oceanic ornaments Palæarctic parrots peculiar perhaps phenomena plants Pliocene plumage probably produced proportion protection rays region remarkable resemble sexual selection showy sometimes South America species spots structure sunbirds surface tail temperate zones temperature theory tints trees tropical trunks Ungulata variation varied variety vegetation whole wings yellow