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 110
Still more remarkable are the varied styles of coloration in the birds of tropical
forests , which rarely or never appear in those of temperate lands . We have
intensely lustrous metallic plumage in the jacamars , trogons , humming - birds ,
sun ...
Still more remarkable are the varied styles of coloration in the birds of tropical
forests , which rarely or never appear in those of temperate lands . We have
intensely lustrous metallic plumage in the jacamars , trogons , humming - birds ,
sun ...
Page 119
... tropical zone is that of the Chiroptera or bats ; which becomes suddenly much
less plentiful when we pass into the temperate regions , and still more rare
towards the colder parts of it , although a few species appear to reach the Arctic
circle .
... tropical zone is that of the Chiroptera or bats ; which becomes suddenly much
less plentiful when we pass into the temperate regions , and still more rare
towards the colder parts of it , although a few species appear to reach the Arctic
circle .
Page 165
This will be found to be not so extravagant an assertion as it may at first appear ,
if we consider how many of the choicest adornments of our greenhouses and
flowershows are really temperate as opposed to tropical plants . The masses of ...
This will be found to be not so extravagant an assertion as it may at first appear ,
if we consider how many of the choicest adornments of our greenhouses and
flowershows are really temperate as opposed to tropical plants . The masses of ...
Page 181
In order to account for the fact that all colours appear to us to be produced by
combinations of three primary colours — red , green , and violet — it is believed
that we have three sets of nerve fibres in the retina , each of which is capable of ...
In order to account for the fact that all colours appear to us to be produced by
combinations of three primary colours — red , green , and violet — it is believed
that we have three sets of nerve fibres in the retina , each of which is capable of ...
Page 182
This view is supported by the phenomena of colour - blindness , which are
explicable on the theory that one of these sets of nerve - fibres ( usually that
adapted to perceive red ) has lost its sensibility , causing all colours to appear as
if the red ...
This view is supported by the phenomena of colour - blindness , which are
explicable on the theory that one of these sets of nerve - fibres ( usually that
adapted to perceive red ) has lost its sensibility , causing all colours to appear as
if the red ...
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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 |