Vladimir Nabokov

NABOKV-L post 0010713, Mon, 6 Dec 2004 14:25:37 -0800

Subject
Fwd: RE: more on bacula (for the List?)
Date
Body
Sorry, I meant to write (not in humans) rather than (not in primates)...:)


Victor Fet




-----Original Message-----
From: Vladimir Nabokov Forum [mailto:NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU] On Behalf Of
Donald B. Johnson
Sent: Monday, December 06, 2004 2:59 PM
To: NABOKV-L@LISTSERV.UCSB.EDU
Subject: Fwd: more on bacula (for the List?)



----- Forwarded message from chaiselongue@earthlink.net -----
Date: Sun, 05 Dec 2004 09:58:41 -0800
From: Carolyn <chaiselongue@earthlink.net>

I had no idea - - it turns out that human males are singular among mammals in
not having a penis bone! In fact, for those who envy such things, you can even
buy baculae on the internet:

Peter I was an oddity in many ways; perhaps he was a throwback of some kind or
else, perhaps, an implant from a very large animal was the viagra of the day?
-----------------------------------------
EDNOTE. As far as I recall, the Kunstkammer exhibition in question was not
Peter I's (most) person possession, although I vaguely recall reading a novel
centering on Napoleon's. NB, BTW, VN's interest in lepidoptera genitalia.
The technical term BACULUM (penis bone) offers some charming wordplay
possibilities. The plural is BACULA. BACULUS (with plural BACULI) is "a staff
of authority, esp. one that is symbolic of authority (as the pastoral staff of
a bishop." Compare VaN's ADA play on STIGMA (bad) vs its plural STIGMATA
(good).
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EDNOTE. SEE below for possible holiday gifts for the guy who has (ALMOST)
everything.
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Bacula
Number one question at The Bone Room? What is a Bacula?! A bacula is
essentially a penis bone found in many species of mammals. It is a large very
dense bone uniquely shaped for each species and often used as an aid in
classification of otherwise similar species. As could be expected, it is found
only in males. The baculum is one of several heterotropic skeletal
elements-ëi.e., bones dissociated from the rest of the body skeleton. It is
found in all insectivores (e.g., shrews, hedgehogs), bats, rodents, and
carnivores and in most primates except humans. Such wide distribution suggests
that it appeared early in mammalian evolution.
Coyote Bacula $2.50 each
Fox Bacula $2.50 each
Mink Bacula $2.50 each
Otter Bacula $6.50 each
Raccoon Bacula $3.50 each
Seal (fossilized) Bacula $20-$35 each

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