“No. But instead of teeth, its upper jaw is lined with at least seven hundred plates of a thick horny substance. These plates are often twelve and fifteen feet long.”
“When the whale wants to eat it opens its huge mouth, and then closes it full of water. This water is then strained through the plates, and hundreds of small fishes are caught in them. The whale can then swallow her dinner at her leisure.”
“What a dinner!” exclaimed Pinocchio. “Now tell me this. Why is it that so many whales are captured by whalers? You say that they are harmless. Why, then, should they be killed?”
“They are caught because of their value. Those horny plates I spoke of are what is called whalebone. The large tongue of the whale contains many barrels of oil. From the body of the whale great quantities of fat may be had. All these things are of great use in the world.”
“What about that other whale you spoke of? The one with the terrible teeth.”
“The sperm whale? Oh! that one is a dreadful being. With its great mouth and sharp teeth it can eat anything. Seals, dolphins, and even the terrible squaloids are lost, if they come near him. He is very ferocious.”
While Marsovino and Pinocchio were talking, the whale had come nearer. The marionette saw a small dark object climb on her back.
“What is that?” he asked.
“That’s a baby whale. Whales are very affectionate mothers. The baby whale is tired, so the mother is going to carry it.”