The British Butterflies Described 



THE MOUNTAIN RINGLET BUTTERFLY (Erebia 

 Epiphrori), Plate IX., Fig 2. It is strange that this 

 fragile little fellow should choose the rough mountain- 

 side for his home. In a boggy hollow of Ben Lomond, 

 nearly 2,000 feet above the sea, buried in snow almost 

 the whole winter through, I know a colony of this 

 butterfly which lives and flourishes under these seem- 

 ingly impossible conditions. Doubtless it could be 

 found on many more of our Highland hills. 



The wings are a dark, fulvous brown, with an incon- 

 stant red bar near the outer edge of both wings, and on 

 this rusty bar are usually a few small eye-spots, some- 

 times absent, or reduced to mere specks. The under 

 side is almost similar. It is a very easily damaged 

 little creature, requiring great care in handling, and I 

 may add that in catching it is always advisable to care- 

 fully select your specimens on the ground, as quite a 

 large percentage always appear to be rubbed, so soon 

 do they become unfit for the cabinet even in the height 

 of their season, which occurs during the first fortnight 

 of July. 



The caterpillar is said to be green, and feeds upon 

 various grasses. It is also found on the mountains of 

 Cumberland and Westmorland. 



THE SCOTCH ARGUS BUTTERFLY (Erebia Mthiops], 

 Plate IX., Fig. 3. Like all butterflies, the Scotch 

 Argus is seen at its best in its native haunts. You 

 feel it has a subtle kind of association with its sur- 

 roundings that defies definition. Seeing this species 

 flirting about in dozens in a dell where the air is heavily 

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