The Cocker Spaniel 253 



sprung. Shoulders strong and free. Back firm. Loin compact and 

 strong. Hind quarters of exquisite formation. Fore legs showing great 

 strength and set into good feet. Stern well set. Carriage gay. Coat 

 showing slight curliness, especially on neck and hind quarters. Feather 

 profuse. A thick-set and sturdy little dog that looks exactly what he is — 

 the prince of stud dogs. Obo II. is not so good in head as his kennel 

 companion, Miss Obo II., but his worth to the cocker interests of this 

 country cannot be overestimated." 



"Miss Obo II. Criticism. Skull beautifully formed, with clean cheeks 

 and median line clearly defined. Muzzle better than we have seen in any 

 other specimen in this country; it is of correct length, and has a clean-cut 

 appearance in every direction, especially near to the eyes and nose, where 

 so many otherwise good specimens fail. Eyes correct in colour and expres- 

 sion. Ears long enough, well placed and well carried. This is much 

 the best cocker head that we have seen in America; in fact, it would take 

 a wonderfully good one to beat it. Neck of excellent formation. Chest 

 deep with ribs well sprung. Shoulders correctly placed. Back strong. 

 Loin showing strength and would be none the worse if it were shorter. 

 Hind quarters in harmony with fore. Fore legs not perfectly straight; they 

 should be heavier in bone. Feet inclined to turn outward; they should be 

 thicker through the pads, also more compact. Stern well set and properly 

 carried. Coat excellent. Feather profuse. Moves in excellent style. Is 

 longer between the couplings than we like and would be improved with 

 more substance. A bitch showing lovely quality. The first time we saw 

 this excellent specimen we said that she could beat any cocker on the 

 American show benches. This opinion has been substantially endorsed by 

 many of the best judges, and Miss Obo II. is generally conceded to be the 

 best cocker that has ever been shown in this country." 



Of the dogs which succeeded these two the prominent ones were Black 

 Pete, of long, field-spaniel type and just inside the cocker weight limit; 

 Brant, a nice dog in many ways, but not right in head; and Doc, a typical 

 little dog in shape, style and action that we advised Mr. West, of Camden, to 

 buy as a puppy for i^ioo when he was placed equal with a puppy named 

 Dunrobin at the New Haven show. It took a very good dog to beat Doc, 

 who afterward passed into the possession of Mr. A. C. Wilmerding. His 

 breeding on the dam's side was weak, and this probably accounts for his 

 not being as much of a success as a sire as his looks warranted one to expect; 



