The Irish Water Spaniel. 411 



thus: Dog from 21 inches to 22 \ inches high (seldom higher 

 when pure bred), head rather capacious, forehead prominent, face 

 from eyes down perfectly smooth, ears from 24 inches to 26 inches 

 from point to point. The head should be crowned with a well- 

 defined top-knot, not straggling across like the common, rough 

 water dog. but coming down in a peak on the forehead. The 

 body should be covered with small crisp curls, which often 

 become clogged in the moulting season. The tail should be 

 round without feather underneath, rather short, and as stiff as 

 a ramrod ; the colour of a pure puce liver without any white. 



" Though these dogs are of very high mettle, I have never found 

 them untractable or difficult to train. They readily keep to heel 

 and down-charge, and will find a dead or wounded bird any- 

 where, either in the open or in covert ; but they are not partial to 

 stiff, thorny brakes, as the briars catch in their curls and trail after 

 them. It is advisable to give them a little training at night, so 

 that in seeking objects they must rely upon their nose alone. For 

 the gun they should be taught to go into the water like a duck ; 

 but when kept for fancy a good dog of this breed will take 

 a flying jump of from twenty-five to thirty-five feet or more per- 

 pendicularly high into the water. 



"My old dog Boatswain lived to about eighteen years old,, 

 when, although in good health and spirits, I was obliged to- 

 destroy him. ... A good, well trained dog of this kind will 

 not be obtained under from 10 to 20, and I have known ^40 

 or ^"50 paid for one. They will not stand a cross with any other 

 breed. . . . The pure breed has become very scarce ; and 

 although very hardy when grown up, they are very delicate as 

 puppies." 



Following the above, some special interest ap- 

 peared for a time to be taken in Irish spaniels, and 

 Captain Lindoe, R.N., Mr. E. Montressor, Mr. J. T. 

 Robson, Mr. R. W. Boyle, Captain O'Grady, Mr. 



