Atalapha, a Winged Brownie 
was seized by the head. Her hind feet clutched 
it firmly, a few quick movements of her jaws: the 
wing cases, the armored legs and horns went 
down rattling into the leafage, and the June-bug’s 
body was like a chicken trussed for eating, cleaned 
of all but the meat. 
Calling to the twins with a twittering squeak, 
she took the fat lump in her teeth and flew onward 
and upward, still calling. Then as they labored 
in pursuit, she rose a little and dropped the big 
luscious prize. 
Away went Brother, and after went Little 
Brother, in pursuit of the falling food. It fell 
straight, they darted in zigzags. Again and again 
they struck at it, but could not hold it. It was 
surely falling to the ground, where it would be 
lost, for no Frosted Bat would eat food from the 
ground. But Mother swooped, and with her tail 
scooped the round thing in again. 
Once more she flew to the higher level above the 
trees. Again she called to the brothers to try their 
powers. And as the fat body dropped a second 
time they resumed their eager zigzags. A little 
screech of joy from Little Brother announced that 
he had scooped the body, but he lost his wing 
balance, and dropped the June-bug to recover 
himself. It had not fallen twenty feet before 
152 
