On Sat, 19 Mar 2005 16:26:22 GMT, Norman Lynagh
wrote:

I saw a butterfly in the garden this afternoon. It had a brown hairy
body, orangish wings with dark brown spots. It's not a subject I know
anything about but this does seem fairly early. Any expert knowledge out
there?

Probably a small tortoiseshell. I saw one too this afternoon. They can
sit out the winter in houses and buildings and be roused by a rise in
temperature such as today.

Paul Brooks