Anas (anas)

[L. anas ( an at- ) = Gr. νῆττα, Epic and Ionic νῆσσα, Dor. νᾶσσα, = Lith. antis = OHG. anut, enit, MHG. ant (pl. ente), ent, G. ente = AS. ened, ME. ened, ende, a duck, ME. deriv. * endrake, by apheresis drake, E. drake: see drakel.] A genus of palmiped lamellirostral swimming birds, typical of the family Ana tid a. It was nearly conterminous with Anatidæ in the early systems, as the Linnean, but has been succe ively restricted by different authors, till it has come to be applied only to the mallard, Anas boscas, and its immediate con species, as the dusky duck, A. obscura, of North America. It was for some time coextensive with the subfamily Ana tina, including the fresh-water ducks as distinguished from the Fuliguline. With Linnæus it was synonymous with Anseres, exclusive of Mergus, and contained the swans, geese, etc., as well as the ducks. A form Ana us is also found. See cut under mallard.