CHAPTER XIX. 

 THE SPANIEL. 



DOG shows, and the consequent breeding for so- 

 called fancy points, have completely altered the 

 character of our English spaniels at least, of a 

 majority of those we see winning in the rings nowa- 

 days. Such are, as a rule, quite a different article 

 to the animal old painters placed upon their can- 

 vases, and which writers of previous generations 

 described in the pages of their volumes. 



There is no doubt that the spaniel, as he is gene- 

 rally known, preceded the setter, who was produced 

 from him. and was trained to " sett " game long 

 before the pointer came to be introduced to this 

 country. It has been said both came from Spain 

 originally, a country that was also stated to be the 

 home of the British bulldog. Surely the land of 

 sherry wine and bull fights has much to answer for, 

 and may be deemed fortunate in obtaining the repu- 

 tation of being the original manufacturer of such 

 valuable animals. 



