Faded glory

This is, I think, a rather aged and much faded Dark Green Fritillary butterfly, feeding on the nectar of the ragwort.

The green colouration can only be seen on the lower surface of the wings.

The name fritillary, whether it be this butterfly or the flower known as the snake's head fritillary, comes from the Latin fritillus meaning a dice-box. Back in 1597 J. Gerard wrote in his herbal that "It hath been called Frittillaria, of the table or boord vpon which men plaie at chesse, which square checkers the flower doth very much resemble, some thinking that the chess-board was named Frittillus".