THE SPANIELS 301 



with his beauties lying right in the centre of his possibilities if 

 any point be disproportionate, it is a defect, a blot on his symmetry. 



It also pronounces that the foreign blood whether of Hound, 

 Dachshund, or Terrier which has been introduced into many 

 modern strains, is fatal to the true Spaniel quality in both work and 

 appearance ; and that the first of these crosses may be detected by 

 the dog's voice being too frequent and deep in tone, the second by 

 his crooked legs, and the third by his hard mouth, while a wild and 

 disobedient nature will result from any of the three. 



It proceeds to postulate a low carriage of tail as a proof of pure 

 Spaniel descent. This is indeed an essential characteristic, for in 

 any gundog an erect tail is a sure sign of mongrelism. In fact, the 



FIG. 64. MR. F. WINTON SMITH'S CLUMBER SPANIEL CHAMPION 



BliECHGROVE DON ALLY. 



term cocktailed was formerly considered so expressive that its use 

 became general as a synonym for underbred in descriptions of 

 horses and even of men. 



Here is the description of the Clumber Spaniel published by 

 the Sporting Spaniel Society : 



The Clumber is the longest, lowest, and largest of the Spaniels. He was 

 bred chiefly for battue-shooting, to work in a pack the forest-coverts of the 

 Midlands, where the undergrowth is not thick. He is admirably adapted for 

 work of this kind by the excellence of his nose, his slowness and docility. He 

 is always mute. 



Skull. Large, massive, and broad on top, with decided occiput, heavy brows, 

 and deep stop. 



Jaws. Of medium length, square, with flews well developed. 



Eyes. Orange-brown, rather sunken, and showing the haw slightly. 



Ears. Large and vine-leaf shaped, carried slightly forward, the hair on 

 them straight. 



