278 THE TOY SPANIELS 



I should think has more of the characteristics of 

 the original dog than have our present show 

 Spaniels. They are longer in the face, and weigh 

 more. 



Curiously enough, minute chronicler though he 

 was, old Pepys does not appear to have made any 

 reference to these Spaniels. One would have ex- 

 pected some allusion to them, but I am unable to 

 find any. Once, after attending some christening 

 festivities, he records that " One passage of a lady 

 that did eate wafers with her dog did displease me." 

 And elsewhere we have mention of another dog that 

 was an adept at killing cats which came after his 

 master's pigeons. This clever animal had accounted 

 for over a hundred, which he had subsequently 

 buried. 



The Tricoloured variety is of comparatively 

 modern creation, having been produced from crosses 

 with the others, and the Ruby probably does not 

 date back more than thirty years. Consequently 

 the task of breeding sound, whole-coloured specimens 

 is not altogether easy, and there also seems to be 

 a tendency for the backs to be longer than is liked. 

 The demand for good ones is said to exceed the 

 supply, so there is a good chance for any one to 

 take up the variety and make headway. 



I have no personal experience of these little Toy 

 Spaniels, but all who have had them get most 

 enthusiastic in their praise, no terms of eulogy being 

 too high. They have highly developed intelligence 

 and great fidelity. 



The Toy Spaniel Club has drawn up the follow- 

 ing standard, applicable to all varieties : 



HEAD. Should be well domed, and in good 



