THE SMALLER SPANIEL. 711 



latter, but also possesses many of his habits, combined with 

 the lively and active disposition of them both. From the 

 beauty and temper of the cocker, he has been very gene- 

 rally diffused throughout the kingdom, and on these ac- 

 counts he is more frequently a companion of the parlour 

 than used for the sports of the field. 



It is the unalterable nature of the cocker to spring, flush, 

 or start all the game before them, and they pursue without 

 distinction, hare, pheasant, partridge, woodcock, snipe, quail, 

 and plover. It consequently becomes necessary to hunt 

 them within gun-shot of covert, and they never should be 

 allowed, if possible, to go beyond call of the sportsman, 

 or his whistle ; the following beautiful passage, from Somer- 

 ville, depicts the cocker in field-sports : — 



" But if the shady woods my cares employ. 

 In quest of feathered game my spaniels beat, 

 Puzzling til' entangled copse ; and from the brake 

 Push forth the whirling pheasant ; higher in air 

 He weaves his varied plumes, stretching away 

 With hasty wing. Soon from the uplifted tube 

 The mimic thunder bursts, the leaden death 

 O'ertakes him, and, with many a giddy whirl, 

 To earth he falls, and at my feet expires.*' 



TIIE SMALLER SPANIEL, OR KING CHARLES's COCKER. 



This beautiful little dog is considerably less than the 

 cocker, to which he is closely allied in character and form ; 

 he has, however, much longer ears, and the tail is also longer 

 in proportion to the size of his body. Like the springer 

 and cocker, he is extremely fond of pursuing birds of all 

 kinds, and like them, also, he gives tongue in the pursuit. 

 His diminutive size unfits him for field-sports. He is easily 

 tired, and bis legs too short to get through swampy ground. 



