156 British Dogs. 



shows. Youatt says : "The hair long and closely curled." " Stone- 

 henge," in "The Dog in Health and Disease," says " head and tail 

 covered with thick curly hair," and gives as an illustration of the 

 breed a woodcut of a dog with a distinctly curly coat. 



I do not believe the breed is lost, but that scattered throughout the 

 country there are many specimens of the old English water spaniel, which 

 it only requires that amount of encouragement to breeding which it is in 

 the power of show committees to give to perpetuate the variety and improve 

 its form. 



I have come across many specimens, and owned one many years ago, 

 which would fairly represent the breed as described and portrayed by our 

 older sporting writers. 



The duties of a water spaniel require that he should be under the most 

 perfect command, obedient to a sign ; for silence in fresh water shooting 

 is absolutely necessary to success, waterfowl of all kinds being peculiarly 

 wary and timid. The dog should even be taught to slip into the water 

 noiselessly, and not with a rush and plunge, if the bag is to be well 

 filled ; he must quest assiduously and in silence, keeping well within 

 range and working to signal ; he must be a thorough retriever, as bold 

 and persevering as obedient, and, by early education, under the most 

 perfect command. 



Two sizes are generally referred to, but, for the fresh water fowler, a 

 large dog is not required, and one 301b. to 401b. will work the sedges, 

 reeds, willows, &c., of river sides, pools, and locks, with greater advantage 

 than a big one. 



The points of the English water spaniel I would describe as follows : 



The general appearance, strong, compact, of medium size, leggy by com- 

 parison with the Clumber, Sussex, or black field spaniel, and showing 

 much greater activity. 



The head, rather long, the brow apparent but not very great ; jaws fairly 

 long, and slightly, but not too much, pointed, the whole face and skull 

 to the occiput covered with short smooth hair, and no forelock as in the 

 Irish water spaniel. 



The eyes fairly full but not watery, clear, brown coloured, with intel- 

 ligent beseeching expression ; the ears long, rather broad, soft, pendulous 

 and thickly covered with curly hair of greater length than on body. 



The neck short, thick, and muscular. 



