CARNIVORA. 
very powerful, and may be tasted in eating a pike 
which has recently fed on them. 
It inhabits, in great numbers, the rivers and lakes 
of the southern parts of Russia; and feeds principally 
on leeches. It exhibits much of the sagacity of the 
beaver in digging its retreat, the mouth of which 
opens under the surface of the water, but the burrow 
is thence raised so as to be dry even when the com- 
mon level of the water is much raised by floods. 
It is taken principally in nets by fishermen. 
A species, about half the size of the last, has 
been found at the foot of the Pyrenees, and arranged 
by Geoffroy with this genus ; but, according to his 
specific description, the teeth do not correspond ex- 
actly with those of the desman of Russia. The figure 
of this singular animal is from that given by M. 
Geoffroy. 
THE SCALOPE. (Illiger^.) 
This new genus has the teeth of the desman, and 
the pointed muzzle of the shrew ; and large fore 
paws, provided with strong nails for digging, similar 
to those of the moles. 
* The word crKaXo^p, whence this is derived^ signifies merely a 
mole, and does not appear therefore to be sufficiently distinctive. 
