WATER SPANIEL. 115 



are to be met witli in the principality in large numbers during tlic 

 season, and form one of the chief attractions to the shooter. 



The Devonshire cocker closely resembles the Welsh dog, both 

 being of a deep liver-colour. The dog on the left is the ordinary 

 English cocker. 



The Blenheim and King diaries' spaniels will be described 

 under the head of toy dogs, to which purpose alone are they 

 really suited, though sometimes used in covert shooting. 



THE WATER SPANIEL. 



Water spaniels are commonly said to have web-feet, and this 



point is often made a ground of distinction from other dogs, but the 



fact is that all dogs have their toes united by membranes in the same 



way, the only distinction between the water and land dogs being 



that the former have larger feet, and that the membrane between 



the toes being more lax, they spread more in swimming, and 



are thus more useful in the water. Most people would understand, 



from the stress laid on web-feet in the water dogs, that the toes of 



the land dogs were nearly as much divided as those of man, but 



there are none so formed, and, as I before remarked, the toes of 



all are united throughout by a strong membrane. The coat in all 



the water dogs is woolly and thickly matted, often curly, and in 



all more or less oily, so as to resist the action of the water. This 



oil is rank in smell, and hence they are all mifit to be inmates 



I 2 



