THE COCKER SPANIEL. 



BY J ' OTIS FELLOWS. 



>HE Spaniel is one of the oldest breeds of dogs in 

 existence, and several other and later breeds owe 

 some of their best qualities to crosses on this 

 breed. So far as known, the Spaniel is, as the name 

 indicates, a native of Spain. From there he was introduced 

 into England; and by crossing, interbreeding, and manip- 

 ulation, several strains have been thrown off from the 

 original parent stock. Dr. John Caius, writing in 1576, 

 says: 



There be gentle dogs serving the hawk, and first of the Spaniel, called in 

 Latin Hispaniolus. There be two sorts, viz.; the first findeth game on the 

 land ; the other findeth game on the water. Such as delight on the land play 

 their parts either by swiftness of foot, or by often questing to search out and 

 to spring the bird for further hope of advantage, or else by some secret sign 

 and privy token bewray the place where they fall. The first kind of such 

 serve the hawk, the second the net or train. The first kind have no peculiar 

 names assigned unto them, save only that they be denominated after the 

 bird which by natural appointment he is allotted to take, for the which consid- 

 eration the Cocker is thus named, as spoken of hereafter. Such be called dogs 

 for the falcon, the pheasant, the partridge, and such like. The common sort of 

 people call them by one general word, namely, Spaniels, as though this kind of 

 dogs came originally and first of all out of Spain. The most part of their 

 skins is white, and if they be marked with any spots, they are commonly red, 

 and somewhat great therewithal, the hairs not growing in such thickness but 

 that the mixture of them may easily be perceived. We are to choose him by 

 his shape, beauty, mettle, and cunning hunting; his shape being discerned in 

 the good composition of his body, as when he hath a round, thick head, a 

 short nose, a long, well-compact, and hairie eare, broad eyde lips, a clear, red 

 eie, a thick neck, a broad chest, short and well-knit joints, round feete, strong 

 cleys, good round ribs, a gaunt bellie, a short, broad back, a thick, bushy, and 

 long-haired taile, and all his body generally long and well haired. He is small, 

 with a wanton playing taile, and a busie laboring nose, and to give his master 

 warning of what he scenteth, he doeth it by whimpering and whinnies, making 

 him adapted for covert shooting. They vary in size from fourteen to twenty 

 pounds in weight. 



22 C337) 



