318 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



of Clumber sagacity for me to elaborate upon. There is no 

 more intelligent dog in existence than he whom I champion 

 the noble Clumber. 



To their masters they are the most faithful of friends, 

 and no stranger need expect this aristocrat to take the least 

 notice of his caresses, if, indeed, he tolerates them at all. 



They are splendid watch-dogs, and no intruder can come 

 about their master's residence without notice being given 

 of his presence. My Clumbers prevented one burglar that 

 I know of from u burgling" (he was seen); and a gentleman 

 writes to me of his Clumber that "he is the most vigilant 

 watch-dog I have ever known, and I have owned many. He 

 does not bite, but will bark persistently. On two occasions 

 he prevented the entrance of burglars, many of the houses 

 in the neighborhood being entered. But he never barks 

 unless there is a noise around the house." 



This describes their methods very well, though my ex- 

 perience has been that they will bite at a pinch, and an 

 ugly wound they can give. I should certainly not care to 

 have a stranger happen in my kennels at night. There 

 would be a badly used-up man to comfort, I fancy. 



Of ancient and high lineage, useful, strong, enduring, 

 faithful, watchful, and beautiful surely the Clumber Span- 

 iel is deserving of popularity. 



It is therefore most gratifying, to those of us who know 

 and love this noble dog, to observe that he is becoming 

 more and more popular in America every year; that he is 

 being sought after to-day by sportsmen who a few years 

 ago either knew or cared nothing for him; that good speci- 

 mens of the breed now sell readily at prices that a few 

 years ago would have been thought by every American 

 exorbitant. It is gratifying to know that, notwithstand- 

 ing the wide distribution of Clumber owners, already noted, 

 each year's entry of this breed at our bench shows shows 

 an increase over the preceding year. All these facts indi- 

 cate that the Clumber is a coming dog, and it is safe to 

 predict that in time he will become almost as numerous and 

 as generally popular in this country as is the Setter to-day. 



