The Spaniel. 405 



was not satisfactory, and at the initial Birmingham 

 exhibitions but four classes were provided, two for 

 Clumbers and two for " any other variety." About 

 1862 an improvement was wrought, Irish water 

 spaniels were specially provided for, and later the 

 classes were divided, not by colour or variety, but 

 according to weight. Thus dogs exceeding 25lb. 

 weight competed separately, so did dogs below that 

 standard, and the bitches were restricted to over 

 and under 2olb. 



Now matters are different, colour is taken into 

 consideration, and type and variety to a limited 

 extent. In the best arranged schedules individual 

 classes are provided for Clumbers (2), Irish Water 

 Spaniels (2), Sussex or liver coloured (2), black (2), 

 any other colour (i), and for cockers (2). In 

 addition challenge classes may be made as is 

 deemed desirable. The cockers are usually re- 

 stricted to 25lb. in weight, which is five pounds too 

 heavy. 



The old fashioned English water spaniel appears 

 to have altogether disappeared, and now this curly- 

 coated brown and white, retriever-like, but smaller, 

 dog is not to be found, and remains only in the 

 pictures engraved by Bewick and drawn by Reinagle 

 and others. The " Sportsman's Cabinet " has a nice 

 picture of this dog, and even so recent a writer as 



