Batling

You're looking at a baby Pipistrellus pipistrellus bat, named after the Italian word for bat, pipistrello. Baby bats are called pups. The wikipedia entry on this bat describes it as having a "weak, fluttery flight reminiscent more of a butterfly than anything else."

Come on, is that a kind way to invite this pup into the world, with those harsh words? Weak and fluttery? Bats are hunters; you can't lump them in with butterflies. Butterflies are prey! This batling needs to know that he will be the terror of the insect world, that bugs will flee his squeak, and that his flitting about and indirect flight will be the stuff of nightmares to countless chitin-covered creepy crawlies.

Thanks for the bat, Denita.

Photo source: Wikipedia.com