CONTENTS. 



I. THE CLIMATE AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF THE EQUATORIAL ZONE. 



The three Climatal Zones of the Earth Temperature of the Equatorial 

 Zone Causes of the Uniform High Temperature near the Equator 

 Influence of the Heat of the Soil Influence of the Aqueous Vapour of 

 the Atmosphere Influence of Winds on the Temperature of the Equator 

 Heat due to the Condensation of Atmospheric Vapour General 

 Features of the Equatorial Climate Uniformity of the Equatorial Cli- 

 mate in all Parts of the Globe Effects of Vegetation on Climate Short 

 Twilight of the Equatorial Zone The Aspect of the Equatorial Heavens 

 Intensity of Meteorological Phenomena at the Equator Concluding 

 Remarks pages 1 26 



II. EQUATORIAL VEGETATION. 



The Equatorial Forest-belt and its Causes General Features of the Equa- 

 torial Forests Low-growth Forest-trees Flowery Trunks and their 

 Probable Cause Uses of Equatorial Forest-trees The Climbing Plants 

 of the Equatorial Forests Palms Uses of Palm-trees and their Pro- 

 ducts Ferns Ginger-worts and Wild Bananas Arums Screw-Pines 

 Orchids Bamboos Uses of the Bamboo Mangroves Sensitive-plants 

 Comparative Scarcity of Flowers Concluding Eemarks on Tropical 

 Vegetation pages 27 68 



III. ANIMAL LIFE IN THE TROPICAL FORESTS. 



Difficulties of the Subject General Aspect of the Animal Life of Equatorial 

 Forests Diurnal Lepidoptera or Butterflies Peculiar Habits of Tropical 

 Butterflies Ants, Wasps, and Bees Ants Special Relations between 

 Ants and Vegetation Wasps and Bees Orthoptera and other Insects 

 Beetles Wingless Insects General Observations on Tropical Insects 

 Birds Parrots Pigeons Picarise Cuckoos Trogons, Barbets, Toucans 

 and Hornbills Passeres Reptiles and Amphibia Lizards Snakes 

 Frogs and Toads Mammalia Monkeys Bats Summary of the Aspects 

 of Animal Life in the Tropics pages 69 123 



