320 BRITISH DOGS 



THE COCKER SPANIEL 



Small-sized Spaniels, weighing from 2olb., or even less, to 2515., 

 and of all colours, are still pretty numerous throughout the country, 

 and many of them are as good as they are handsome. These, 

 the Cockers of the different families, are among the most in- 

 telligent, vivacious, and beautiful of the canine races. They 

 can creep and crawl, push and scramble, almost anywhere ; and, 

 when they are allowed to retrieve, it is wonderful what heavy burdens 

 they manage to carry, an attribute of their perfect shape, whip-cord 

 muscles, and big hearts. The writer has seen one carrying a 

 hare that was half his own weight. They are never more in their 

 element than when rattling the rabbits out of thick gorse-covers, 

 of flushing woodcocks from a tangled hill-side. From this bird, 

 indeed, is their title of Cocker derived ; so indispensable, in shooting 

 the long-bills, were their services considered by our ancestors. 



And nowadays, on a crisp morning of late autumn, there is 

 no better sport than to repair with a team of good Cockers to 

 some suitable spot that abounds with high banks and almost 

 impenetrable thickets, listening for their shrill voices when game 

 is stirred, and taking snap-shots when you find a chance. 



These little Spaniels are quite indefatigable in their exertions, 

 and if ever one be found to slacken at all in his efforts or to appear 

 tired, there is good reason to "suspect his get." 



High spirits are innate in all true Cockers, but these are not 

 accompanied by a headstrong temper, and no dog is more easily 

 disciplined by judicious treatment. At the first trials ever held, 

 a very typical liver-and-white Cocker bitch easily won the first 

 prize. After that event her breaker sold her for a large price, and 

 she disappeared from public life. The other day the writer saw 

 her again quite by chance, and he was interested to learn that 

 her new owner is as enthusiastic about her virtues to-day as we 

 aft were nearly five years ago. 



There are several varieties of the Cocker, each belonging to 

 a different district of Great Britain. For instance, in Devonshire 

 the Cocker is often a 3olb. dog, and is rather sturdier in build, 

 as well as bigger, than his cousin of the Midlands, which greatly 

 resembles an English Springer in miniature, though not quite so 

 heavy in lip and ear, and a trifle shorter in the back. The writer 

 can just remember a family of liver-roans in Derbyshire, very small 

 but built on the lines of an English Setter (the Setting-Spaniel). 

 They were certainly lovely, and at home rather languishing in their 

 manner. But show them a gun, and they were ablaze in a moment, 

 and at work no cover was rough enough to daunt them. 



The Welsh Cocker is, similarly, a modified miniature of the 

 Welsh Springer. Judges at shows, therefore, ought to judge the 



