292 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



from eyes and ears down perfectly smooth; ears twenty-one 

 inches from point to point of leather, and twenty-five inches 

 from point to point of feather. The head is crowned with 

 a well-defined top-knot, which stands erect, and is not strag- 

 gling across, like that of the common rough water dog, but 

 comes down in a peak on the forehead, giving the head and 

 face much of the appearance of a merino sheep. His body 

 is covered with small crisp curls, which extend along the 



IRISH WATER SPANIEL-DENNIS O'DONOGHUE. 

 Owned by Mr. C. B. Rodes, Moberly, Mo. 



tail about three inches. From there to the sting the tail is 

 smooth. His color is pure liver. 



The standard as adopted by the English Spaniel Club, 

 hereinafter given, meets my approval, except as to the top- 

 knot, which in my judgment should not fall over the eyes, 

 but should stand erect. 



Mr. J. S. Skidmore, a noted English breeder of Irish 

 Water Spaniels, pays this well-deserved tribute to the good 

 qualities of the breed: 



To a sportsman of limited means, or one who is not prepared to keep 

 a team of dogs, the Irish Water Spaniel is the most useful dog he can have, 



