The King Charles Spaniel. 403 



kind, it appears to me that the breed has been modified to suit the fashion 

 of the day. 



At present the jet glossy black, with rich warm tan markings, are in 

 favour, and no other colours have a chance with these in the judging 

 ring. 9 



The breeders of these toys, in London and elsewhere, have certainly 

 brought them in form and colour to a high state of perfection ; and, judged 

 by the standard set up whether the lines be approved or not both 

 these and the modern Blenheims are marvels of the breeder's skill. 



In respect to colour, and the close connection between the black and 

 tan, and red, or liver, it is worthy of notice that Mr. Garwood, one of the 

 oldest London breeders, took first prize at the Alexandra Palace show, 

 1878, in a class for King Charles spaniels of any other colour than black 

 and tan, with a red dog, Dandy, the same dog having been second to 

 Miss Dawson's Frisky in an open King Charles spaniel class, 1875, and 

 Garwood has assured me the dog was black and tan bred on both sides 

 for some generations. 



This is at once accounted for when we remember that the black and 

 tan King Charles and the red and white Blenheims have been repeatedly 

 crossed by the trading breeders of fancy dogs, so that even now a well 

 bred bitch of either sort, mated with one like herself, may throw a pup 

 of the other variety. 



Such occurrences are, however, becoming rare, for the two are bred 

 distinct, except where the cross is purposely resorted to to produce 

 specimens of the charming tricoloured pets once so much in vogue. 



Although the black, white, and tan variety is at present rather out of 

 fashion, it is not without its admirers, and I believe they are on the 

 increase, so that I quite look to them taking a prominent place at shows 

 at no distant date. Two of the most beautiful specimens of these I know 

 are Mrs. Eussell Earp's Tweedledee, a winner at the Alexandra Palace, 

 of which we give an engraving, and Conrad, brother to Tweedledee, and 

 the property of Miss Violet Cameron. 



When the colours are rich and nicely distributed, this variety is much 

 more attractive and gay than the black and tan King Charles, or even 

 the red and white Blenheim ; and if encouragement were given at shows 

 to these beautiful toys, they would soon appear in numbers, and regain 

 the popularity they have temporarily lost. 



