THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL. 



213 



THE KING CHARLES SPANIEL derives its name from the "airy monarch," Charles II., 

 who took great delight in these little creatures, and petted them in a manner that verged on 

 absurdity. 



It is a very small animal, as a really fine specimen ought not to exceed six or seven pounds 

 in weight. Some of the most valuable King Charles Spaniels weigh as little as five pounds, 

 or even less. These little creatures have been trained to search for and put up game after the 

 manner of their larger relatives, the springers and cockers, but they cannot endure severe 

 exercise, or long-continued exertion, and ought only to be employed on very limited territory. 



When rightly managed, it is a most amusing companion, and picks up accomplishments 

 with great readiness. It can be trained to perform many pretty tricks, and sometimes is so 

 appreciative of its human playfellows that it will join their games. 



WATER SPAXIEL.-Canis familiaris hlrsutus aquatUis. 



I knew one of these animals which would play at that popular boys' game, called "touch," 

 as correctly as any of the boys who used to join in the game, and on account of its small size 

 and great agility was a more formidable opponent than any of the human players. The same 

 Dog carried on a perpetual playful feud with the cat, each seeking for an opportunity of deal- 

 ing a blow and of getting away as fast as possible. It was most absurd to see the way in which 

 the Dog would hide itself behind a door-step, a scraper, a large stone, or under a thick shrub, 

 and panting with eager expectation, watch the cat walking unsuspiciously towards its ambush. 

 As the cat passed, out shot the Dog, tumbled pussy over, and made off at the top of its speed, 

 pursued by the cat in hot haste, all anxious to avenge herself of the defeat. In these chases 

 the cat always used to run on three legs, holding one paw from the ground as if to preserve its 

 strength in readiness for a severe application to the Dog's ears. 



" Prince," for that was the name of this clever little animal, was an accomplished bird's- 

 nester, seldom permitting a too-confiding blackbird or thrush to build its hymeneal home in 

 the neighborhood without robbing it of its variegated contents. When the Dog first discov- 

 ered how palatable an article of diet was a blackbird's egg, he used to push his nose into the 

 nest and crush the eggs with his teeth, or would try to scrape them out with his paw. In 

 both these methods, he wasted a considerable portion of the liquid contents of the eggs, and 



