THE IRISH WATER SPANIEL. 



BY P. T. MADISON. 



of the greatest, if not the greatest, retrievers of 

 which we have any knowledge is the Irish Water 

 Spaniel. Especially is this true of the species from 

 the south of Ireland. 



The breed consists of two distinct varieties, peculiar to 

 the north and south of Ireland. The northern dog has 

 short ears, with little feather either on them or on the legs, 

 but with a considerable curl in his coat. In color he is 

 generally liver, but with more or less white, which some- 

 times predominates so as to make him decidedly white 

 and liver. 



The south country Irish Water Spaniel is, on the con- 

 trary, invariably of a pure liver-color. Ears long and well 

 feathered, being often twenty-four inches from point to 

 point, and the whole coat consisting of short, crisp curls. 

 Body long, low, and strong; tail round and carried slightly 

 down, but straight, without any feather. Almost all of the 

 importations to America are from the latter-named species. 

 The importers and breeders of America have endeavored to 

 keep the breed pure, and through their efforts this country 

 can now boast ,of as fine specimens as can be found any- 

 where in the world. 



The writer has in his kennel a dog, now three years old, 

 by Count Bendigo, out of Foam, which is pronounced by 

 persons well posted on this breed a typical specimen; there- 

 fore, in the absence of anything better, I will use the meas- 

 urements of this dog in giving* a description of my ideal 

 of the breed. 



Height, twenty -four inches at the shoulder; weight, fif- 

 ty-five pounds; head capacious, forehead prominent, face 



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