270 THE COCKER SPANIEL. 
however spirited a Spaniel may be, it must not raise its tail above the level of its back. 
For the purpose of sport, a Spaniel must be possessed of a thick coat, as it is subject to 
continual wetting from the dripping coverts throuzh which it has to force its way. It 
should be also a tolerably large Dog, not weighing less than fourteen pounds if possible, 
and may with advantage weigh some thirty or for ty pounds, as do the breed known by 
the name of the “Clumber” Spaniels. These last-mentioned animals work silently. 
Examples are given in the accompanying illustration of three kinds of Cocker 
Spaniels. The dark Dog, that occupies the foreground, is a Welsh Cocker; and the 
other two Dogs are ordinary Cockers. 
COCKER SPANIELS. 
Tue Cocker is altogether a smaller animal, seldom weighing above twenty pounds, 
and very often being only ten or twelve pounds in weight. It is an active and lively 
animal, dashing about its work with an air of oay enjoyment that assists materially in 
enlivening the ‘spirits of its master. There are many breeds of this Dog, among which the 
English, Welsh, and Devonshire Cockers may be mentioned as well-known examples. 
“It is a courageous little creature, retaining its dashing boldness even when imported 
into the enervating Indian climate, which destroys the spirit of most Dogs, and even 
reduces the stubborn bull-dog to a mere poltroon. Captain Williamson, in his book of 
“ Oriental Field Sports,” records an instance of rash courage on the part of one of these 
little Dogs. 
“T was shooting near some underwood, rather thinly scattered among reedy grass, 
growing on the edges of a large water-course, which took its rise near the foot of the 
large hill at Muckun Gunge, when peencer one of a brace of fine cocking Spaniels I had 
with me ran round a large bush greatly agitated, and apparently on some game which 
I expected to put up. 
