138 British Dogs. 



him ; no hedgerow is too thick, no brake too dense for him to penetrate 

 and force out to view of the sportsman the reluctant game ; he is a most 

 active, ardent, and merry worker; his "wanton tail," ever in motion 

 while he quests, increases in rapidity of action with that tremulous 

 whimper that tells so truly that he is near his game, and says to his 

 master, in tones that never deceive, " Be ready ; it is here." 



The spaniel is no less a favourite as a companion and house dog, for 

 which his watchfulness, sagacity, and fidelity, equally with his gentleness 

 of manners and handsome appearance, eminently fit him. 



The present classification of spaniels, according to the Kennel Club 

 Stud Book, is, field spaniels in which, as already observed, blacks almost 

 invariably usurp the whole of the prizes Clumber spaniels, Sussex 

 spaniels, Irish water spaniels, and water spaniels other than Irish, and the 

 now purely toy varieties, Blenheim and King Charles spaniels. Having 

 referred to the older style of spaniel, the parti-coloured specimens of 

 which (and these are in a large majority of the whole) are practically 

 excluded from bench-show honours, I shall proceed with a description of 

 the several varieties named, beginning with the modern favourite. 



CHAPTER XXIV. THE BLACK SPANIEL. 



BY CORSINCON. 



THESE dogs have achieved great prominence since the establishment 

 of dog shows, the principal breeders and exhibitors of them having been 

 the late Mr. Burdett, of Birmingham ; the late Mr. Jones, of Oscott, 

 near Birmingham ; Mr. Phineas Bullock, of Bilston, Staffordshire ; and 

 Dr. Boulton, of Beverley, in Yorkshire ; and the strains of these 

 several gentlemen's kennels are now in the hands of a considerable 

 number of exhibitors and others throughout the country. The general 

 appearance is that of a long, low set dog, legginess being looked on 

 as a great fault ; the general contour, enhanced by the bright glossy jet 

 black coat, is very pleasing. To take the points seriatim : 



