FIELD SPANIEL. 107 



up ; but this dog is not very fast, though quite sufficiently so for 

 all sporting purposes. The feet are generally rather flat, but the 

 soles arc stout, and stand work -well, while the quantity of hair on 

 them fits them to bear the friction of heather or other rough work. 

 I have never tried one of these dogs myself, but I have always 

 heard the highest character of their nose and sagacity, as well as 

 of their powers of endurance. 



THE FIELD SPANIEL. 



the field spaniel is distinguished from the toy dog by his pro- 

 pensity to hunt game, and by his size and strength, which are 

 sufficient to enable him to stand the work which is required in 

 making his way through the briars and thorns of a thick covert, 

 where he is chiefly employed. Although not used for water, where 

 the water sjDaniel is pre-eminent, his coat must be of such a tliick 

 nature as to bear long-continued wet, inasmuch as he is generally 

 soaked with it, either from the snow on the briars, or from moisture 

 hanging to them in drops, caused either by rain or dew. Hardi- 

 hood, therefore, is essential, and though a little dog may possess it, 

 there are few instances of anything under 12 or 14 pounds being 

 able to stand the wet and labour of a day's covert shooting. The 

 nose of the spaniel must be exquisite, or he will be unfit to per- 

 form his duties, which require him to follow out the pheasant, 

 woodcock, or hare, to the well-concealed retreat in or under a thick 

 bush, which either of them may have chosen. A good and some- 

 what musical tongue was, by the old school of sportsmen, con- 



