Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0014806, Thu, 1 Feb 2007 13:33:35 -0200

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camel-hair, Kamelspinner, Odon and Damselfies
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It is difficult to judge how far we can stretch VN's wordplays.The puns with "jacket" came to my mind because of the German word for coat ( Jacke ) and the expression "Bubendorf" rang to my ears as a cross between "Village-idiot" and a common "Jackass". And this is how I felt after having tried to connect Mrs. Kamelspinner, the taxidermist's wife (CCC -759), Old Pharsin and Bates' stuffed squirrels and mother.

And yet, there is a brown-moth ( and an emerald green catterpillar, whose head is difficult to distinguish from its tail-end) called Kamelspinner (Ptilodon capucina).

1. Would there be some kind of connection bt. this Kamel-moth and Dreyer's "voluminous camel-hair coat"?

2. The scientific name of the Kamelspinner moth, with its "odon" ending, reminded me of PF's Odon and his tesserated face.

3.Would Odon also apply to insects, such as the Odonata dragonflies ( Anisoptera) or the damselflies (Zygoptera)? King Charles' father flew a "Demoiselle" ( damselfly) ...

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