The Cocker Spaniel 249 



and then in the text stating that "the three chief varieties of land spaniel 

 were the springer or large spaniel, the small or cocking spaniel, and the 

 small, delicate, domestic spaniel or comforter." Further on he states that 

 the springer and cocker differ but in degree, the former being larger. Cap- 

 tain Brown, 1829, gives to each a chapter, but mixes his varieties very 

 much, describing the Sussex as a cocker, and in the other chapter practically 

 saying they are both springers, only differing as to size. His one illustra- 

 tion is for the cocker, and it bears a strong family likeness in position to 

 Chalon's left-hand spaniel in his very pretty illustration from Daniel's 

 book used in the chapter on the Clumber spaniel in Part III. 



Youatt is the last writer of this period, and he gives the same division 

 and about the same description, only we can note a change in the springer 

 in its approach to the field-spaniel type when he says that they are slower 

 and steadier in range than the cocker. The next jump is to the modern 

 authorities beginning with Stonehenge, and the absorption of springer 

 into the field-spaniel classification and the preservation of cocker. 



Some writers have drawn attention to the double use of "cock" for 

 pheasants and woodcock, and here are a few quotations on that subject: 



Daniel, in his chapter on pheasants, says: "Spaniels for pheasant or 

 cock shooting cannot be too short upon the leg, or have too much courage; 

 the thickness of the coverts will oppose and sometimes almost overpower 

 even this combination of form and spirit." The reader can choose his 

 own interpretation as to that meaning woodcock shooting; for to show that 

 the hens were spared he quotes the poet Pye: 



" But when the hen to thy discerning view 

 Her sober pinions spreads of duskier hue, 

 The attendant Keeper's prudent warning hear 

 And spare the offspring of the future year; 

 Else shall the fine which custom laid of old 

 Avenge her slaughter by thy forfeit gold." 



The custom was to make the shooter of a hen pay a guinea, which was 

 given to the keepers. This was also a Continental custom, and the attendant 

 of one of the Bourbon princes, shooting by invitation at Mr. Coke's Holkham 

 estate, gave the warning "poule" when a hen sprung. 



From W. H. Scott we take these: "On the Suffolk manors of Mr. 

 Thelluson they could afford to kill two thousand brace of cocks annually." 

 This was distinctly with regard to pheasants. Under the head of wood- 



