On the Natural History of the Aru Islands

This early work by Alfred Russel Wallace was originally published in 1857 and we are now republishing it with a brand new introductory biography. On the Natural History of the Aru Islands is an article detailing the discoveries of new bird and insect life that Wallace made on his travels to the Aru Islands. Alfred Russel Wallace was born on 8th January 1823 in the village of Llanbadoc, in Monmouthshire, Wales. Wallace was inspired by the travelling naturalists of the day and decided to begin his exploration career collecting specimens in the Amazon rainforest. He explored the Rio Negra for four years, making notes on the peoples and languages he encountered as well as the geography, flora, and fauna. While travelling, Wallace refined his thoughts about evolution and in 1858 he outlined his theory of natural selection in an article he sent to Charles Darwin. Wallace made a huge contribution to the natural sciences and he will continue to be remembered as one of the key figures in the development of evolutionary theory.