CARNIVORA. 
S83 
THE SCALOPE, OR SHREW MOLE. LE SCALOPE DU 
CANADA. 
- - Sorex Aquaticus, 
I 
This animal forms one of those numerous links, 
that connect different genera. It is neither a shrew 
nor a mole ; though to the former it is allied by the 
teeth, and to the latter by its large and broad feet, 
armed with digging claws. It is the brown mole of 
Pennant and Shaw; and the water shrew of Linnaeus, 
Gmelin, and Schreber ; but, being dissimilar in some 
important respects to both these races of animals, 
consistency must be sacrificed in placing it with 
either, or the refinement of multiplying the genera 
must be submitted to, in separating it from both. 
The scalope has the nose much elongated. The 
nostrils are small ; the eyes and ears small, and al- 
most hidden in the fur; the fore paws large and 
strong, and the toes joined by a membrane reaching 
to the last joint. The body is about six inches long, 
of a yellowish gray colour ; and the tail is extremely 
short. In its habits, as in its form, it appears to be 
assimilated both to the water shrew and the mole, 
living generally in holes on the banks of rivers, 
principally in Canada. 
