102 THE SPANIEL 



dark hazel or dark brown or nearly black, while in 

 other colours they match the markings T; they should 

 be grave in expression, bespeaking docility and 

 instinct. The ears are set as low as possible, 

 moderately long and wide, and sufficiently clothed 

 with nice, Setter -like feather. The neck is very 

 strong and muscular, in order to enable the dog to 

 retrieve game without undue fatigue. The nose is 

 well developed, with good open nostrils, and variable 

 in colour, according to the colour, of the coat or 

 markings. In the black dog, of course, it should be 

 pure black. The shoulders are sloping an'd free, 

 the chest deep and well developed, but not too round 

 and wide. The back is very strong and muscular, 

 level, and long in proportion to the height. The 

 hindquarters are very powerful and muscular, wide, 

 and fully developed. The stern is well set on and 

 carried low, if possible below the level of the Hack, 

 in a perfectly straight line, or with a slight down- 

 ward inclination, never elevated above the back, and 

 in action always kept low. It is nicely fringed with 

 wavy feather of silky texture. The feet, not too 

 small, are well protected between the toes with soft 

 feather r j good strong pads. Legs straight and im- 

 mensely bonedf; strong and short and nicely 

 feathered with flat or waved Setter-like feather. 

 'Over-much feathering below the hocks is objection- 

 able. The coat, flat or slightly waved, and never 

 curled, is sufficiently dense to resist the weather, and 

 not too short. It is silky in texture, glossy and 

 refined in nature, with neither duffelness on the one 

 hand nor curl nor wiriness on the other. The black 

 dog should be a glossy jet throughout. A little white 

 on the chest, though a drawback, is not a disquali- 



