Fieldfare in a rowan tree. Glen Spean, 26/10/92
Scotch Argus [Erebia æthiops] Glen Finnan, 05/08/95 ~ The watchful Argus of Greek mythology had 100 eyes, and gave his name to this butterfly. It is common enough, but if you find a brown butterfly similarly marked but without the white spots in the eye-centres, Butterfly Conservation would like to hear from you, as it could be a Mountain Ringlet [Erebia epiphron] and they are not at all common. I once found Mountain Ringlets by the dozen (between Meall Phubuill and Meall Bhuidhe, at the head of Glen Lyon, 19/07/93), but not knowing then of their rarity I took only a few photos and later donated the only decent slide to Butterfly Conservation.
A badly out-of-focus Mountain Ringlet.
