ANSERES, the name which Linnaeus gives to his third order of birds. This order is distinguished by the following marks: The beak is covered with a smooth skin
skin or membrane, widest at the apex, and full of small holes like a sieve; the toes of the feet are connected by a membrane which enables them to swim; the tibia, or shin-bone, is short and flat. They live upon water-plants, fishes, &c. This order includes 12 genera, viz. the anas, mergus, phæton, plotus, rhyncops, dromeda, alca, procellaria, pelecanus, larus, steria, and columbus. See these articles, and NATURAL HISTORY.