Silkworms

I was puzzled by the phrase, "silkworm-moth eyebrow," in an old
Japanese, or rather Chinese proverb:--The silkworm-moth eyebrow
of a woman is the axe that cuts down the wisdom of man. So I went
to my friend Niimi, who keeps silkworms, to ask for an
explanation.

"Is it possible," he exclaimed, "that you never saw a silkworm-
moth? The silkworm-moth has very beautiful eyebrows."

"Eyebrows?" I queried, in astonishment. "Well, call them what you
like," returned Niimi;--"the poets call them eyebrows.... Wait a
moment, and I will show you."

He left the guest-room, and presently returned with a white
paper-fan, on which a silkworm-moth was sleepily reposing.

"We always reserve a few for breeding," he said;--"this one is
just out of the cocoon. It cannot fly, of course: none of them
can fly.... Now look at the eyebrows."

I looked, and saw that the antennae, very short and feathery, were
so arched back over the two jewel-specks of eyes in the velvety
head, as to give the appearance of a really handsome pair of eye-
brows.

Then Niimi took me to see his worms.

In Niimi's neighborhood, where there are plenty of mulberrytrees,