328 THE AMERICAN BOOK OF THE DOG. 



round the memories of oar young and enthusiastic days. 

 From personal recollection and good opportunities of com- 

 parison, extending over nearly forty years, I feel positive 

 that the handsomest Setters which old Laverack used to 

 bring with him to my native highland moors would not 

 receive more than a V. H. C. card at our modern shows. 

 And so with Spaniels. The dogs of thirty, or even fif- 

 teen, years ago can not be compared with the cracks of the 

 present day. In candidly admitting this fact, however, I 

 am quite free to confess that there is a strong tendency on 

 the part of modern breeders to exaggerate ' ' fancy ' ' points, 

 and, as a consequence, an undue appreciation is apt to be 

 given, in the cultivation of the different breeds, to abnor- 

 mal excess in the admired and difficult-to-be-obtained qual- 

 ities that differentiate each class from its kindred and allied 

 breeds, sometimes at the expense of more useful character- 

 istics. For instance, Spaniel conformation is essentially 

 4 'long and low," and this has created a rivalry amongst 

 breeders to produce the " longest and lowest." Now there 

 is a limit to length and lowness, which is clearly defined as 

 a point where an exaggeration in those respects interferes 

 with the necessary activity and ability to work with suffi- 

 cient ease and vigor in a rough country. 



In England, the Clumber, which is the longest, lowest, 

 and heaviest of the Spaniel tribe, is only particularly use- 

 ful in pheasant preserves, where rides are cut through the 

 cover, and where slow, strong, plodding dogs are required. 

 In examining the old authorities, we find that there were 

 numerous varieties of sporting Spaniels, and that each 

 appears to have been selected and bred for the special 

 peculiarities of the game and shooting that prevailed in 

 certain districts. In Sussex, the large, handsome, golden- 

 liver breed was especially prized; in Wales and Devon, the 

 smaller liver and liver-and-white Cockers were especially 

 suited, par excellence, for the sport in those counties, while 

 farther north, and in the midland counties, the black and 

 black-and-tan Spaniels were the favorites. After the intro- 

 duction of dog shows in England, about thirty years ago, 



