Britain's Favourite Butterfly – and Mine

I see that the charity Butterfly Conservation is running a poll to find Britain's Favourite Butterfly. At present, the Peacock is leading the vote, unsurprisingly, and in second place I'm delighted to see the Orange Tip, ahead of the Red Admiral. Has anyone voted for the Dingy Skipper, Britain's dullest butterfly, I wondered? They have – it's there at number 37 (of 60 eligible species). So what is at number 60, the bottom of the poll? Incredibly, it's the Silver-Spotted Skipper, a beautiful little butterfly that gladdened my heart on many a late-summer walk in the Surrey Hills. Of my own favourites, I was also startled to see the lovely Dark Green Fritillary way down the chart at number 49. But Nige, I hear you ask – if you were to vote, what would it be? Readers of this book need hardly ask – yes, it would have to be the White Admiral (currently at number 26). The special magic of this butterfly is as much in its flight as in its beautiful wing markings. Jeremy Thomas writes that 'No account can do justice to the White Admiral's dainty movements, or convey the character of a creature so ideally suited to gliding in and out of dappled shade among the branches of mature woodlands.' Indeed. 
  This video gives some idea of the beauty of Limenitis camilla...