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flitillary

flitillary
 n.— «The erratic, zigzagging flight of courting and songbird-evading fritillaries prompt some people to refer to them as “flitillaries.” Actually, the genus name probably derives from fritillus, a cylindrical cup used by the Romans to throw dice. This dice cup was decorated with white spots, as are many fritillary butterflies.» —“August Nature Almanac: Fields of mint lure amorous fritillaries” by Stephen Jones, Ruth Carol Cushman Daily Camera (Boulder, Colorado) July 28, 2009. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)

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