Download Wallace Virtual Issue Alfred Russel Wallace, OM, FRS, FZS (1823

Wallace Virtual Issue
Alfred Russel Wallace, OM, FRS, FZS (1823–1913) was a remarkable
British naturalist, explorer, geographer and anthropologist, who famously
conceived the theory of evolution through natural selection in 1858,
independent of Charles Darwin. Wallace published more than 800 articles
as well as 22 books in his lifetime, and collected thousands of specimens
of insects, shells, birds, mammals and reptiles during his expeditions to
the Amazon and the Malay Archipelago (Malaysia, Singapore and
Indonesia), including over a thousand species new to science. In honour of
the centennial of the year of his death, we have compiled this Virtual
Issue of Wallace’s papers published in the Proceedings of the Zoological
Society of London, the predecessor of Journal of Zoology. The Issue also
includes contributions by other scientists describing Wallace’s collections.
The selection of papers presented here, featuring birds, mammals, insects,
fish and molluscs, reflect the breadth of Wallace’s contributions to
zoology and biogeography. In addition to describing new species, Wallace included observations on their
anatomy, appearance, behaviour and geographical distribution in relation to similar species and made
suggestions as to how they should be classified. For example, it is fascinating to read Wallace, the ‘father of
biogeography’, describe the distribution of different bird species on the Sula Islands in Indonesia and conclude
that “it seems to me clear that the Sula Islands are really an outlying portion of Celebes, and must at some
former period have had a much closer connexion with that great island than at present”. This clearly relates to
his concept of the ‘Wallace Line’, a faunal boundary line that separates Asia and Australia, which is the result
of historic variable land connectivity between islands in the region. In the same paper, and of particular interest
to us at the Zoological Society of London, Wallace mentions that he named one of the 13 new species of birds
he describes after Dr Sclater, “the indefatigable Secretary to the Zoological Society of London, to whose kind
assistance and extensive knowledge of ornithology I am much indebted”.
Without a doubt, the jewel of this collection is the paper entitled ‘Narrative of Search after Birds of Paradise’, in
which Wallace describes the toils and misfortunes (including disease, hunger and pirates!) he encountered
during his expedition to New Guinea to collect specimens of birds of paradise, “this rare and beautiful bird”.
This paper is truly fascinating: in it we can enjoy the poetic elegance of Wallace’s writing as he describes his
admiration of these beautiful birds. Equally compelling is his account of the catastrophes he encountered, which
allows us to experience the extent of Wallace’s dedication to his task.
We hope that you will enjoy reading this Virtual Issue and join us in celebrating Alfred Russel Wallace as one
of the greatest zoologists of all time!
Elina Rantanen
Journal of Zoology
Zoological Society of London