98 THE SPANIEL 



taught to fetch and carry, and the sagacity which 

 it shows in finding any article it has once seen, but 

 which has afterwards been lost or. purposely mislaid, 

 is truly remarkable." This tribute to the merits of 

 these gay little dogs is fully deserved, and holds 

 good to-day. The largest and handsomest of all is 

 the Clumber, which may weigh from 55 Ib. to 

 70 Ib. His origin is obscure, but, however he was 

 made, he has long been associated with the family 

 of the Dukes of Newcastle, and it is said that he 

 came from France. It is suggested that he is a 

 mixture of the Basset and the Welsh Springer, and 

 his whole appearance lends colour to this theory. 

 Owing to his great size he tires more easily than 

 the smaller dogs. Clumbers work well in teams 

 for covert shooting, and they make excellent re- 

 trievers. His low and heavy formation makes him 

 slow in front of the guns, and for this reason he 

 is not likely to flush game out of shot. The head 

 of the Clumber should be large, square, and massive, 

 of medium length, broad on the top, and with a 

 distinct occiput. The brows are heavy, with a deep 

 stop, and the muzzle carries well -developed flew. 

 The eyes are dark amber, well sunk'. The ears are 

 large, shaped like a vine -leaf, and well covered with 

 straight hair. They hang slightly forward. The 

 neck is fairly long, thick, and powerful, and well- 

 feathered underneath. The body is long and heavy 

 and near the ground, with well -sprung ribs. The 

 nose is square and flesh-coloured. Shoulders are 

 strong, sloping, and muscular, with a deep chest. 

 The back is straight, broad, and long, with powerful 

 loins well let down in the flank. The hind quarters 

 are very powerful and well developed. The stern 



