Journal of Natural Science Exploration in the Malay Archipelago

Author: Wallace
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-11-01
Features: The birth of truth is always accompanied by pain and hardship. People are reluctant to accept new truths. If one wants to make a newly discovered truth, or even a well-known truth, widely accepted with ease, it is like searching for a miracle that has never happened. – Wallace
Biology is an ancient discipline. The tradition of biology has been regarded as one of the two great traditions of science since ancient Greece, alongside the mathematical and physical sciences. However, compared to the mathematical and physical sciences, which can directly produce new technologies and create new value, the biological tradition, which aims to observe, describe, and perceive nature, has not received the attention it deserves. People living in the urban jungle are also estranged from true nature. The two classic works of biology introduced in this "Western Culture Popular Book Series," The Malay Archipelago: Naturalist's Notes and the upcoming The Voyage of the Beagle, were written by Darwin and Wallace, two great biologists who made significant contributions to the development of science. In the books, you can explore the mysteries of nature alongside them; when you close the book, pay attention to the flowers, trees, and adorable small animals around you, and you will discover the beauty of nature and appreciate its charm.
From 1854 to 1862, Wallace spent eight years traveling through the islands of the Malay Archipelago, covering approximately 14,000 miles and collecting over 120,000 biological specimens. These collections provided him with rich research materials, leading him to propose the theory of natural selection. At the same time, he also proposed a fundamental theory on the distribution of animals in the region—that the animal zones of the Malay Peninsula could be divided into two parts: the Indian-Malay zone to the east and the Australian-Malay zone to the west—this theory is still accepted by the scientific community today. To honor him, the boundary line dividing these two regions is known as the "Wallace Line."
This book is a comprehensive record of Wallace's historic journey. The author vividly depicts the magnificent natural scenery of the Malay Archipelago, introduces the rich and diverse species of the islands, and allows readers to experience the primitive and simple customs and cultures of the region. More valuable is that he predicts in the final chapter the various negative impacts of modern human civilization on the ecological environment and on humanity itself, which is deeply thought-provoking to read.