Marsh Fritillary added to the protected list.

[Neil Jones]

It has just been announced that the British Government has added the Marsh
Fritillary butterfly (Eurodryas aurinia) to the list of most protected 
wildlife species under the 1981 Willdife and COuntryside Act.

As someone who has been actively involved in conserving this species
for many years I find this a most welcome step. 
Although the legislation is not strong enough on habitat protection, it will
provide an important lever to use in the land-use planning system where habitats
come under threat. It will also serve to highten awareness of the species 
plight.

For those in North America this species is what you would usually call a
checkerspot. Indeed the upperside bears a remarkable resemblance to that of the 
highly endangered Quino Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha quino)

-- 
Neil Jones- Neil at nwjones.demon.co.uk http://www.nwjones.demon.co.uk/
"At some point I had to stand up and be counted. Who speaks for the
butterflies?" Andrew Lees - The quotation on his memorial at Crymlyn Bog
National Nature Reserve