EDNote:
As far as I can tell working from D. Zimmer's Guide 2001, the
genus Lycaenopsis was not part of VN's research, and the
species named below does not occur in VN's writings (it is part of the
family Lycaenidae, home of VN's beloved Melissas incl. the
"Karner Blue". His other main area was the genus Plebejus, in
the same family.) I don't recall seeing Shelford's A Naturalist
in Borneo ([1916), T. Fisher Unwin Ltd: London.] on any of VN's
lists, but it is the kind of thing he read in those years. If it is a
conscious reference, the concealment is most appropriate--and invites
learning more about Shelford's mimicry work. Speaking of the Karner
Blue, did anyone else notice that the Nature Conservancy used this
endangered butterfly for its fundraising campaign last fall --but
without any mention of Nabokov, alas!~SB
-------- Original Message --------
Sorry for the double posting.
Among the species named after Shelford is the Celarchus shelfordii, a
blue
butterfly in the Lycaenopsis-group. This was VN's special area, was it
not? So perhaps this has all been covered in Nabokov's Butterflies?
MR