The Blenheim Spaniel 731 



" I would allow ( indeed I would insist upon) the deep indentation 

 between the eyes, added to the high skull, and a moderately short face; but 

 the projecting lower jaw, the frog mouth, and the broken nose, free from 

 cartilage, I decidedly object to. Such animals are offensive from their 

 sniffing and snoring, and if tolerated in sanded bar-parlours, are not fit to be 

 admitted into drawing rooms, where I should expect to see a spaniel with 

 a pretty face, well-coated all over, large-eared, large-eyed, rich-coloured^ 

 with a bushy flag, well-feathered feet and diminutive in stature, in preference 

 to the sniffling, apple-faced, idiotic animals too generally bred by "the 

 fancy," and which ought to be discouraged; though, if judging, I would 

 not put them aside until some definite conclusion had been arrived at, as 

 that would be unfair to the exhibitor during the present state of things.'* 



As this was the transition period to the advanced show type it is well to 

 give Idstone's "main points of beauty" as he called his description of what 

 he thought desirable: "The high skull; the full, black, wet eye; the short 

 nose; the large, broad, heavy, well-feathered ear; the compact form, close 

 to the ground; pure, brilliant, rich red and distinct white markings, espec- 

 cially the broad white leaf down the forehead; the round spot on the skull; 

 the white neck and mane; a texture like floss silk; legs all well coated at the 

 back, and deeply feathered toes. Pale-coloured Blenheims are very in- 

 ferior and valueless, but all specimens are of this hue until they have changed 

 their coats. Nine pounds is the outside limit for a Blenheim, but valuable 

 dogs should not weigh over six or seven." 



The modern Blenheim, like the King Charles, is the product of the 

 London " fancy. " These spaniels were bred along the same lines and inter- 

 bred so that the Blenheim is no longer a distinct breed of spaniel but merely 

 one of the four varieties of English toy spaniels. Colour and the spot alone 

 diff^erentiate it from the three types of the King Charles spaniels, though by 

 many it has been held that the ruby is a Blenheim, but we fail to see the con- 

 nection, and it has always been classified as a King Charles "other than 

 black and tan," up to the time the colour was recognised independently. 



It took the Blenheim a good many years to obtain equal recognition 

 and attention with the King Charles in this country, but once the breed 

 was thoroughly established it had no difficulty in holding its own. In the 

 main the same exhibitors which have led in the black and tans and tricolours 

 have been supporters of the Blenheims, and to these may be added Mrs. 

 Shreve of Mt. Holly, who has shown many excellent specimens. Mrs. Ray- 



