Quotes by Henry Walter Bates

About Henry Walter Bates:

Henry Walter Bates was an English naturalist and explorer who gave the first scientific account of mimicry in animals. He was most famous for his expedition to the rainforests of the Amazon with Alfred Russel Wallace, starting in 1848. Wallace returned in 1852, but lost his collection on the return voyage when his ship caught fire. When Bates arrived home in 1859 after a full eleven years, he had sent back over 14,712 species (mostly of insects) of which 8,000 were new to science. Bates wrote up his findings in his best-known work, The Naturalist on the River Amazons.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

The poor monkey, quietly seated on the ground, seemed to be in sore trouble at this display of anger.

Henry Walter Bates

... on these expanded membranes [butterfly wings] Nature writes, as on a tablet, the story of the modifications of species, so truly do all changes of the organisation register themselves thereon. Moreover, the same colour-patterns of the wings gener...

Henry Walter Bates

It was with deep interest that my companion and myself, both now about to see and examine the beauties of a tropical country for the first time, gazed on the land where I, at least, eventually spent eleven of the best years of my life.

Henry Walter Bates

Their elegant shape, showy colours, and slow, sailing mode of flight, make them very attractive objects, and their numbers are so great that they form quite a feature in the physiognomy of the forest, compensating for the scarcity of flowers.

Henry Walter Bates

They took their meals together; and it was remarked on such occasions, when the friendship of animals is put to a hard test, that they never quarrelled or disputed the possession of a favourite fruit with each other.

Henry Walter Bates

The city and province were given up to anarchy; the coloured people, elated with victory, proclaimed the slaughter of all whites, except the English, French, and American residents.

Henry Walter Bates

The people were simpler, more peaceable and friendly in their manners and dispositions; and assassinations, which give the southern provinces so ill a reputation, were almost unknown.

Henry Walter Bates

Besides alligators, the only animals to be feared are the poisonous serpents. These are certainly common enough in the forest, but no fatal accident happened during the whole time of my residence.

Henry Walter Bates

Author Bio

  • NameHenry Walter Bates
  • DescriptionEnglish naturalist and explorer
  • BornFebruary 8, 1825
  • DiedFebruary 16, 1892
  • CountryUnited Kingdom
  • ProfessionExplorer; Entomologist; Zoologist
  • AwardsFellow Of The Royal Society