194 OUR HUMBLE HELPERS 



form distinguished by the same slenderness. It is 

 the fleetest of all dogs. It routs out the hare in 

 hunting; hence its name." 



u Hare and harrier are indeed rather similar in 

 spelling, " observed Jules. 



"Its color, less mixed than in the other breeds, 

 is generally uniform, sometimes tawny, sometimes 

 black, sometimes gray or even white. Some har- 

 riers have short hair, others long ; in fact, there are 

 some that are quite hairless like the Turkish dog. 

 This dog is not very intelligent and shows no pe- 

 culiar attachment to its master, but will fawn upon 

 anybody. Its scent is imperfect, though its eyesight 

 is excellent, and that is what guides it in the chase, 

 while other dogs are guided by the scent. 



"The spaniel owes the name it bears to its Spanish 

 origin. This beautiful dog is characterized by its 

 slender, moderately long head; by its long, wavy 

 hair, which is particularly abundant on the ears, 

 which are drooping and silky, and on the tail, which 

 forms a tuft or plume. No dog has a more amiable 

 and gentle aspect. Intelligence and attachment to 

 its master can be read in its eyes. Of all dogs it is 

 the one your Uncle Paul would choose by prefer- 

 ence as a friend. To this worth in respect to moral 

 qualities add this other virtue, that the spaniel is 

 an expert hunter. In this breed are found dogs with 

 the split or double nose ; but this peculiarity does not 

 seem to add to their keenness of scent. 



"The barbet, otherwise water spaniel or sheep 

 dog, is another of your Uncle Paul's favorites on 



