Tropical Nature, and Other EssaysMacmillan and Company, 1878 - 356 pages |
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Page 116
... closely re- sembling vegetable surfaces . Many are beautifully marbled and spotted , and when sitting on leaves resemble large beetles more than frogs , while others are adorned with bright and staring colours ; and these , as Mr. Belt ...
... closely re- sembling vegetable surfaces . Many are beautifully marbled and spotted , and when sitting on leaves resemble large beetles more than frogs , while others are adorned with bright and staring colours ; and these , as Mr. Belt ...
Page 136
... closely over the under - surface of each leaf , and thus capturing , no doubt , any small insects that may lurk there . While doing this , the two long feathers of the tail have a vibrating motion , serving apparently as a rudder , to ...
... closely over the under - surface of each leaf , and thus capturing , no doubt , any small insects that may lurk there . While doing this , the two long feathers of the tail have a vibrating motion , serving apparently as a rudder , to ...
Page 150
... structure shows them to be closely allied to the paradise - birds . So , the long feathery tongue of the toucans differs from that of every other bird ; yet it is not held to overbalance 150 TROPICAL NATURE , AND OTHER ESSAYS .
... structure shows them to be closely allied to the paradise - birds . So , the long feathery tongue of the toucans differs from that of every other bird ; yet it is not held to overbalance 150 TROPICAL NATURE , AND OTHER ESSAYS .
Page 151
... closely related to each other ; and thus the form of the feather- tracts or the " pterylography " as it is termed , of a bird , is a valuable aid in doubtful cases of affinity . Now , if we apply these three tests to the humming- birds ...
... closely related to each other ; and thus the form of the feather- tracts or the " pterylography " as it is termed , of a bird , is a valuable aid in doubtful cases of affinity . Now , if we apply these three tests to the humming- birds ...
Page 152
... closely pressed to the body . Yet , with all these points of agreement , we find an extreme diversity in the bills and tongues of the two groups . The swifts have a short , broad , flat bill , with a flat horny - tipped tongue of the ...
... closely pressed to the body . Yet , with all these points of agreement , we find an extreme diversity in the bills and tongues of the two groups . The swifts have a short , broad , flat bill , with a flat horny - tipped tongue of the ...
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Common terms and phrases
abundant adapted adorned Africa allied Amazon animals ants Asia attract bamboo Batavia beautiful become birds blue brilliant butterflies carnivora causes changes character characteristic climate colour Colours of Animals comparatively conspicuous continent curious Danaidæ Darwin distinct Eocene equator equatorial zone existence extensive fact families fauna favourable feet female ferns fertilization flowers foliage forests fruits genera genus greater green groups habits heat humming-birds hyænas immense inhabit insects Juan Fernandez land larger larvæ leaves lemurs less light Madagascar Malay Archipelago male mammalia marsupials Miocene monkeys natural selection naturalists North northern observed occur ocean ornaments Palearctic parrots peculiar perhaps phenomena plants plumage probably produced proportion protection rays region remarkable resemble sexual selection showy slender sometimes South America species spots structure sun-birds surface tail temperate zones temperature theory tints tion trees tropical trunks Ungulata variation varied variety vegetation whole wings yellow