What is "scalops aquaticus"

Shrew \Shrew\, n. [See Shrew, a.]

1. Originally, a brawling, turbulent, vexatious person of either sex, but now restricted in use to females; a brawler; a scold.

   A man . . . grudgeth that shrews [i. e., bad men] have prosperity, or else that good men have adversity.
   --Chaucer.

   A man had got a shrew to his wife, and there could be no quiet in the house for her.
   --L'Estrange.

2. [AS. scre['a]wa; -- so called because supposed to be venomous. ] (Zo["o]l.) Any small insectivore of the genus Sorex and several allied genera of the family Sorecid[ae]. In form and color they resemble mice, but they have a longer and more pointed nose. Some of them are the smallest of all mammals.

   Note: The common European species are the house shrew ( Crocidura araneus), and the erd shrew ( Sorex vulgaris) (see under Erd.). In the United States several species of Sorex and Blarina are common, as the broadnosed shrew ( S. platyrhinus), Cooper's shrew ( S. Cooperi), and the short-tailed, or mole, shrew ( Blarina brevicauda). Th American water, or marsh, shrew ( Neosorex palustris), with fringed feet, is less common. The common European water shrews are Crossopus fodiens, and the oared shrew (see under Oared).

   Earth shrew, any shrewlike burrowing animal of the family Centetid[ae], as the tendrac.

   Elephant shrew, Jumping shrew, Mole shrew. See under Elephant, Jumping, etc.

   Musk shrew. See Desman.

   River shrew, an aquatic West African insectivore ( Potamogale velox) resembling a weasel in form and size, but having a large flattened and crested tail adapted for rapid swimming. It feeds on fishes.

   Shrew mole, a common large North American mole ( Scalops aquaticus). Its fine, soft fur is gray with iridescent purple tints.

Mole \Mole\, n. [OE. molle, either shortened fr. moldwerp, or from the root of E. mold soil: cf. D. mol, OD. molworp. See Moldwarp.]

1. (Zo["o]l.) Any insectivore of the family Talpid[ae]. They have minute eyes and ears, soft fur, and very large and strong fore feet.

   Note: The common European mole, or moldwarp ( Talpa Europ[ae]a), is noted for its extensive burrows. The common American mole, or shrew mole ( Scalops aquaticus), and star-nosed mole ( Condylura cristata) have similar habits.

   Note: In the Scriptures, the name is applied to two unindentified animals, perhaps the chameleon and mole rat.

2. A plow of peculiar construction, for forming underground drains. [U.S.]

3. (fig.)A spy who lives for years an apparently normal life (to establish a cover) before beginning his spying activities.

   Duck mole. See under Duck.

   Golden mole. See Chrysochlore.

   Mole cricket (Zo["o]l.), an orthopterous insect of the genus Gryllotalpa, which excavates subterranean galleries, and throws up mounds of earth resembling those of the mole. It is said to do damage by injuring the roots of plants. The common European species ( Gryllotalpa vulgaris), and the American ( Gryllotalpa borealis), are the best known.

   Mole rat (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of Old World rodents of the genera Spalax, Georychus, and several allied genera. They are molelike in appearance and habits, and their eyes are small or rudimentary.

   Mole shrew (Zo["o]l.), any one of several species of short-tailed American shrews of the genus Blarina, esp. Blarina brevicauda.

   Water mole, the duck mole.