276 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
blows from it are faid to be fo powerful as to ftun 
or kill the fierceft of his foes. The Wolf or the 
Fox may furprife him in the dark, but their efforts 
are vain in the day. His food confifts of the graffes 
and weeds, and the feeds and roots of plants which 
grow on the margins of the water, and of the my-? 
riads of infers which fkim over, or float on its fur- 
face; alfo occafionally of the flimy inhabitants 
within its bofom. 
The female makes her neft of the withered leaves 
and ftalks of reeds and rufhes, and lays commonly 
fix or feven thick-lhelled white eggs : flie is faid to 
fit upon them fix weeks before they are hatched* 
Both male and female are very attentive to, their 
young, and will fuffer no eiiemy to approach them. 
