scalops

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. A genus of American shrew-moles of the subfamily Talpinæ, having the median upper incisors enlarged and rodent-like, the nose not fringed, and the dental formula 3 incisors, 1 canine, 3 premolars, and 3 molars on each side above, and 2 incisors, no canine, 3 premolars, and 3 molars on each side below. It includes the common mole or shrew-mole of the United States, S. aquaticus, of which the silvery mole, S. argentatus, is a western variety. The other moles of the same country, formerly referred to Scalops, are now placed in Scapanus. See shrew-mole.