426 DOGS USED FOR SPOUT. 



short time. This oil, although useful to the dog, gives forth an 

 unpleasant odor, and therefore debars him from becoming an in- 

 mate of the house ; so much the better. Some people fancy that 

 the water spaniel possesses web feet, and that his aquatic prowess 

 is due to this formation. Such is not the case. All dogs have their 

 toes connected with each other by a strong me.mbrane, and when 

 the foot is wide, and the membrane rather loosely hung, as is the 

 case with the water spaniel, a large surface is presented to the 

 water. This dog is of moderate size, measuring about twenty-two 

 inches in height at the shoulders, middling stout, ears very long, 

 measuring from point to point about the animal's own height. 

 The pure bred ones are acknowledged not excelled in beauty or 

 intelligence by any breed. I might enumerate many instances 

 where they have seemed to evince almost the intellect of the human 

 race. 



The points of the Irish Water Spaniel, as given in the Fancier's 

 Gazette, are : 



POINTS IN JUDGING. 



Head 35 



Ears 10 



Feet 5 



Legs 5 



Back 10 



Loins 10 



Hind-quarters 10 



Coat 15 



Stern k> 



— 100 



THE FIELD SPANIEL. 



The field spaniel is remarkable for the intense love which it 

 bears for hunting game, and the nervous manner in which it car- 

 ries out the wishes of its master. There are two breeds, the one 

 termed the " Springer " being used among the thick scrub oak 

 and brambles, and the other employed principally on woodcock, 

 and therefore called the "Cocker." Some of these dogs contin- 

 ually give tongue while engaged in pursuit of game, and utter dif- 

 ferent sounds, according to the description of game which they 

 have reached, while others are perfectly mute. Each of these 

 qualities is useful in its way — it should not be too noisy, and the 



