The Blenheim Spaniel. 399 



CHAPTER II. THE BLENHEIM SPANIEL. 



BY CORSINCON. 



THE modern Blenheim spaniel is a very different dog from the original 

 of that name, so long kept by and associated with the Marlborough family. 



It is an instance of the breeder's skill exercised in a wrong direction, for 

 the noseless specimens with abnormally developed skulls I look upon as the 

 results of a perverted taste obtained at the sacrifice of intrinsic qualities, 

 and without sufficient redeeming points to equalise the loss. 



Whether the Blenheim may be reckoned as one of the " Sybaritical 

 puppies " of the " daintie dames " of Caius' time may be doubted, and at 

 what date this little spaniel was taken under the fostering care of the 

 House of Marlborough, and became so closely connected with that illus- 

 trious family as to be given the name of their palace I do not know, but 

 there exists abundance of proofs that the dog now recognised at shows 

 as the Blenheim spaniel is greatly modified by crossings, and with 

 features the possession of which although fashion demands them 

 widely differs from the original. 



An old writer, referring to the Blenheim spaniels of the end of last 

 century, says : " The smallest spaniels passing under the denomination of 

 Cockers is that peculiar breed in the possession and preservation of the 

 Duke of Marlborough and his friends ; these are invariably red and white, 

 with very long ears, short noses, and black eyes ; they are excellent and 

 indefatigable, being in great estimation with those sportsmen, who can 

 become possessed of the breed." What " sportsman," I wonder, would 

 hold in estimation many of the exhibited specimens of the day, animals 

 in which stamina and physique have been so utterly sacrificed that, instead 

 of being able or disposed to hunt, it is only a select few that possess 

 spirit and strength enough for a gambol. True, they are no longer 

 wanted to flush woodcocks or drive coneys, and the beautiful coat and 

 feather, which is one of the most attractive features of our modern dog, 

 would be destroyed for the time being, at least, by such work ; but granted 

 that for the development of some desirable points of beauty the utility of 

 the dogs as workers must be to a greater or less extent sacrificed, I can 

 see no good grounds for the natural and far more beautiful shape of 



