in ornithology, a genus of birds belonging to the order of anseres. The beak of this genus is a little obtuse, covered with an epidermis or skin, gibbous at the base, and broad at the apex; the tongue is obtuse and fleshy; the feet are webbed and fitted for swimming. Under this genus Linnaeus comprehends 38 species, viz., 1. The cygnus, or swan, with a femicylindrical black bill, yellow wax, and a white body. It is the wild swan of English authors, and a native of Europe and N. America. Linnaeus says, they frequently visit Sweden after a thaw; and they are caught with apples in which a hook is concealed. 2. The cygnoides, with a femicylindrical bill, gibbous wax, and tumid eye-brows: It is the swan-goose of Ray, from Guinea. There is likewise a variety of this species, of a less size, called the goose of Muscovy. 3. The tadorna, with a flat bill, a compressed forehead, a greenish black head, and the body is variegated with white. It is the shell-drake of Ray, and frequents the sea-coasts of Europe. 4. The spectabilis, has a compressed bill, gibbous at the base, a black feathery carina, and a hoary head. It is the grey-headed duck of Edwards, and is a native of Sweden and Canada. 5. The fulica, is of a blackish colour, has a white spot behind the eyes, and a white line on the wings. The male of this species is distinguished by a gibbosity at the base of the bill. It is the black duck of Ray, and a native of the European seas. 6. The nigra, is totally black, and has a gibbosity at the base of the bill; the tail resembles a wedge; the female is brownish. It is the lesser black duck of Ray, and a native of Britain and Lapland. 7. The anser, has a femicylindrical bill; the upper part of the body is ash-coloured, but paler below; and the neck is streaked. It is the wild-goose of Ray, and is a native of Europe and America. There is a variety of this species from America, which Edwards calls the laughing-goose; it has a white ring at the base of the bill, and its neck is streaked. The anseres migrate in large troops. 8. The erythropus, is of a grey colour, and has a white forehead. It inhabits the north of Europe. 9. The canadensis, is brown, the neck and head are black, and the throat white. It is a native of Canada. 10. The ceruleocephalus, is greyish above, and white underneath; the covert feathers of the wings and back are bluish. It is the blue-winged goose of Edwards, and a native of Canada. 11. The bernicla, is of a brown colour; with the head, neck, and breast black; and a white collar. It is the brent-goose of Ray, and is a native of the northern parts of Europe. 12. The mollissima, or cut-throat-duck of Ray, has a cylindrical bill, and the wax is divided behind and wrinkled. The feathers, which are very soft and valuable, fall off during incubation. The male is white above, but black below and behind; the female is greenish. It is a native of the north of Europe. 13. The moschata, or Muscovy duck of Ray, has a naked papillous face, and is a native of India. 14. The bahamensis, or Bahama duck, is grey, with a lead-coloured bill. It has a tawny spot on the sides, and a green yellowish spot on the wings. It is a native of Bahama. 15. The alboeola, or little black and white duck, has a black back and wings; the head is bluish, and white on the hinder-part. It is a native of America. 16. The clypeata, or shoveller of Ray, has the end of its bill broad and rounded, and a crooked nail at the end of it. It is found near the European shores. 17. The strepera, or flat-billed duck of Aldrovandus, has the wings variegated with black, white, and red. It frequents the fresh waters of Europe. 18. The bucephala, or lesser duck of Catesby, has the back and wings black; and the head, both above and below, is interspersed with shining silky feathers. It frequents the fresh waters of N. America. 19. The clangula, or golden-eye of Ray, is variegated with black and white, and the head is interspersed with blackish green feathers; it has a white spot near the mouth. It dives much in quest of shell-fish; the eyes are of a shining gold colour. 20. The ruficollis, is brownish, or ash-coloured, with a white spot on the ears and wings. It is a native of N. America. 21. The peripiscillata, or great black duck, is white on the top of the head and of the neck, and has a black spot on the bill, immediately behind the nostrils. It is a native of Canada. 22. The glaucion, or greater wild-duck of Ray, has the iris of the eyes yellow, a grey head, and white collar. It frequents the northern shores of Europe. 23. The penelopis, or widgeon of Ray, has a sharpish tail, black below; the head is brown, and the forehead white. It inhabits the marshy parts of Europe. 24. The acuta, or sea-pheasant of Ray, has a long acuminated tail, black below, and a white line on each side of the back part of the head. It is a native of Europe. 25. The hyemalis, or long-tailed duck, has a tail shaped like a wedge, and long tail-feathers; the body is grey, and the temples white. It is a native of Europe and America. 26. The ferina, or red-headed widgeon of Ray, has ash-coloured wings, and a black rump. It frequents the maritime parts of Europe. rope. 27. The querquedula, or first teal of Aldrovandus, has a green spot on the wings, and a white line above the eyes. It frequents the fresh waters of Europe. 28. The crecca, or common teal, has a green spot on the wings, and a white line both above and below the eyes. It frequents the fresh waters of Europe. This species is to be met with in Duddingston-loch, a fresh-water lake, within a mile of Edinburgh. 29. The histronica, or dusky-spotted duck of Edwards, is of a brown colour, variegated with white and blue; has a double line on the ears and temples; the collar is white, and there is a white streak on the neck. It is a native of America. 30. The minuta, or little brown and white duck of Edwards, is of a greyish colour, with white ears, and the prime feathers of the wings blackish. It is a native of Canada. 31. The circia, or summer-teal of Ray, with the wings variegated with white spots, a white line above the eyes, and the beak and feet of an ash-colour. It frequents the lakes of Europe. 32. The autumnalis, or red-billed whistling duck of Edwards, is of a grey colour, with the prime feathers of the wings, tail, and belly black; and the area of the wings yellow and white. It is a native of America. 33. The bofchas, or common wild-duck of Ray; the intermediate tail-feathers of the drake are turned backward, and the bill is straight. It frequents the lakes of Europe. This duck feeds upon frogs and several sorts of insects.—The wild duck builds its nest among rushes or heath, near the water, and lays 12 or 14 eggs. At moulting-time, when they cannot fly, great numbers of them are taken with nets. Birds with flat bills, that find their food by groping, have three pair of nerves that extend to the end of their bills; these nerves are remarkably conspicuous in the head and bill of the wild-duck; and are larger than those of a goose, or any other bird yet known. This is the reason they grope for food more than any other bird whatever.—34. The adunca, or hook-billed domestic duck of Ray, has the same characters with the bofchas, excepting that the bill is crooked. 35. The galericulata, or Chinese teal of Edwards, has a hanging crest; and on the hinder part of the back, on both sides, there is a crooked, flat, elevated feather; the crest is green and red; and the back is brown, and spotted with blue; the crest feathers on the back are red and blunt; one edge of the inmost wing-feather, when the wings are shut, is raised over the back, and is red, and like a sickle before. It is a native of China. 36. The sponsa, or summer-duck of Catesby, has a depending green crest, variegated with blue and white; the back is likewise variegated with blue and white; the breast is grey, and spotted with white; and the throat is white. It is a native of N. America. 37. The arborea, or black-billed whistling-duck of Edwards, is of a reddish brown colour, with a sort of crest on the head; the belly is spotted with black and white. It is a native of America. Sloane informs us, that this duck perches on trees; that it is about 20 inches long, from the end of the bill to the point of the tail; that it makes a kind of whistling noise, from which circumstance it has received its name. See plate XII. fig. 3. 38. The fuligula, or tufted-duck of Ray, has a hanging crest, a black body, and the wings and belly spotted with white. It is a native of Europe. The male of this species disappears during the incubation of the female.

ANAS campestris, in ornithology. See TETRAO.

ANASCAPTA, among physicians. See ANA.