590 



BRITISH DOGS 



and dark apartments, and discoveries of rare specimens huddled 

 in corners, or extracted from boxes and cupboards. How these 

 delicate animals survived under such conditions, or retained their 

 charming characteristics, is a matter of conjecture. 



We must not imagine the Spaniel of former days to be the same 

 as the present type ; the breed has undergone various changes with 

 the fashion of the times. He undoubtedly had a much longer nose, 

 a smaller head, and a coat inclined to be curly. By depriving him 



_^____ of the long nose his keen 



sense of smell and hunting 

 abilities are exchanged for 

 traits of gentleness, beauty, 

 and for profuse coat and 

 silken feather. Though 

 opinions differ, and criti- 

 cisms are severe at the pe- 

 culiarities developed from 

 time to time, it is here 

 purposed impartially to 

 outline the history of these 

 breeds, and their charac- 

 teristics past and present. 



THE KING CHARLES 

 SPANIEL 



This variety is perhaps 

 the oldest and best known 

 of the Toy Spaniels. We 

 first hear definitely of it in 

 the Court of King Charles, 

 probably about 1630, be- 

 fore which the different 

 breeds were only known 

 as Spaniels ; to this mon- 

 arch the "King Charles" 

 is indebted for his royal 

 title. At the time of Charles II. the King Charles (Fig. 120) may 

 be said to have reached its zenith of popularity ; it was the 

 pampered favourite of the King, and the position it held in Court, 

 to which we have referred, allowed it ready access on all 

 occasions. 



Besides being the oldest, the Royal Spaniel has, through the 

 different periods of pet-dog history, always had its votaries, and 

 though the Toy Spaniels are perhaps as plentiful and popular as 

 they ever were, it is not to be replaced by any others at the present 



FIG. 120. KING CHARLES SPANIEL. 



