THE SCOTCH ARGUS. 113 



boggy ground, and in such places on Gable Hill, Red Skrees, and 

 at Langdale Pikes, among others, it is not uncommon. Previous 

 to 1809 the species was unknown to occur in Britain, but in 

 June of that year specimens were captured by Mr. T. Stothard 

 on the mountains at Ambleside. Haworth, in 181 2, referred to 

 these specimens as from Scotland, but the butterfly was not 

 taken in that country until 1844, when it was discovered by 

 Mr. R. Weaver in Perthshire. It is now known to occur, 

 sometimes in abundance, on Ben Nevis and other adjacent 

 hills, also in suitable spots and the proper elevation around 

 Lochs Rannoch and Vennachar, as well as in the Tay district 

 and Argyleshire. 



In Ireland it was taken by Mr. E. Birchall, in June, 1854, in 

 a grassy hollow about halfway up the Westport side of Croagh 

 Patrick. About five years ago Mr. W. F. de Vismes Kane 

 met with the butterfly on Nephin, Mayo, and he mentioned a 

 specimen believed to have been taken on the hilly slopes on the 

 eastern shores of Lake Gill, Sligo. 



Abroad the species is found in mountainous parts of South 

 Germany, Switzerland, France, North and Central Italy. 

 The typical form, epiphron, is more especially obtained in 

 the Hartz and Alsatian Mountains, Silesia, Hungary, and 

 Bulgaria. 



The Scotch Argus (Erebia cethiops = blandina). 



The butterfly figured on Plate 77 is deep velvety brown, 

 appearing almost black in very fresh male specimens. There 

 is a broad fulvous band on the outer area, but not reaching 

 either the costa or the inner margin ; it is contracted about the 

 middle, the upper part encloses two white pupilled black spots, 

 and the lower part has one such spot. The hind wings have a 

 narrow fulvous band, usually enclosing three white pupilled 

 black spots. The under side is more distinctly brown and not 



