UPLAND SHOOTING. 333 



shooting, the great thickness and severity of the covert, and the 

 pecuUar species of game, it would be more useful. Then- are 

 many varieties of this beautiful, active, and industrious little 

 dog, but the best and most adapted lor this country is the large 

 Cocking Spaniel, or S[ning('r, wliic-h is l")und in the gn^atest 

 perfecti)n iu Sussex. 



Tliis di)ir, whicli is probably the original stock of the Setter, 

 cannot be better descril)ed than as resembling a Setter, ia the 

 same, degree as a punchy, powerful, short-legged pony, resem- 

 bles a well-bred horse. It is very strong and bony for its size, 

 and has great industry, indefatigable spirit, and indomitable cou- 

 rage — nay ! its faults partxike of these latter quafties, as it is 

 wont to be rash, impetuous, and headstrong. One of the <,n-eat- 

 est drawbacks to its excellence in England, would not exist in 

 this country ; I mean its propensity to chase Hares, which 

 abound in many preserves tliei'e to such a degree, that they are 

 bouncing up at every step, and the Spaniels are yelping and 

 yaffing after them all the time. Here the Hare is comparatively 

 a rare animal, and in this respect the temptation of the Spaniel 

 to wildness, would be very greatly diminished in the United 

 States, or in Canada. 



The lu-ad of the Spaniel, and especially the nose, is propor- 

 tionably much shorter than that of the Setter, the frontal sinuses 

 more fully developed, the eye larger and more promincMit, the 

 ears much longer and more curly, some so long that they lite- 

 rally seem as if they were intended " to sweep away the morn- 

 incT dew." 



Their coats are altogether longer, and more curly, the tails not 

 merely feathered, but bushy, and the legs thickly fringed, even to 

 t:ie toes. 



These dogs are of all colors, but I prefer the Blenheim color, 

 rich orancro and white, Avith a full moist eye, and coal-black nose 

 and palate. 



They require great steadiness, and constant attention, both in 

 the breaking, and the hunting when broken ; but firmness, cou- 

 pled with general mildness, and constancy of temper, with occa- 



