x CONTENTS 
TROPICAL NATURE AND OTHER ESSAYS 
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 Climate 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 4 ao Pages 217-237 
II. EquatoRIAL VEGETATION 
The Equatorial Forest-belt and its Causes—Geueral Features of the Equa- 
torial Forests—Characteristics of the Larger Forest-Trees—Flowering 
Trunks and their Probable Cause—Uses of Equatorial Forest-trees— 
The Climbing Plants of the Equatorial Forests—Palms—Uses of Palm- 
trees and their Products—Ferns—Ginger-worts and Wild Bananas— 
Arums—Screw-pines—Orchids—Bamboos— Uses of the Bamboo—Man- 
groves—Sensitive Plants—Comparative Scarcity of Flowers—Con- 
cluding Remarks on Tropical Vegetation . — . » 238-269 
III. Ayiman Lire 1n tHe Trorrca, Forests 
Difficulties of the Subject—General Aspect of the Animal Life of Equa- 
torial Forests—Diurnal Lepidoptera or Butterflies—Peculiar Habits of 
Tropical Butterflies—Ants, Wasps, and Bees—Ants—Special Rela. 
tions between Ants and Vegetation—Wasps and Bees—Orthoptera 
and other Insects—Beetles—Wingless Insects—General Observations 
on Tropical Insects—Birds—Parrots—Pigeons—Picarie—Cuckoos— 
Trogons, Barbets, Toucans, and Hornbills—Passeres—Reptiles and 
Amphibia: Lizards—Snakes—Frogs and Toads—Mammalia: Mon- 
keys—Bats—Summary of the Aspects of Animal Life in the Tropics 
270-311 
