Scotch argus Scotch argus The Scotch argus ("Erebia aethiops") is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. In spite of its English name "argus", it is not a close relation of the brown argus nor the northern brown argus. Subspecies include: "Erebia aethiops" is widespread in the Palaearctic ecozone, including most of Europe, the Alps and Apennines, Balkans, Asia Minor, the Urals, and the Caucasus. English colonies are found at Arnside Knott and Smardale Gill both in Cumbria. This species is found in most of northern Scotland, and in western areas in south Scotland. In Europe and Russia, these butterflies prefer the edge
Scotch Collie to come from the Scots word for "black" or "coal" (coll) and may have referred to a type of sheep (Coaley) which they were once used to herd. However, "Collie" might also have come from the Gaelic "càilean" and "cóilean" for "dog" or "young pup", or from the Celtic word for "useful" which is "collie". Due to its popularity, it was imported to other countries including the U.S., where it simply became known as the Scotch Collie. In its native land, Scotch Collies were used for herding sheep and other farm animals, as well as guarding the homestead and hunting.