104 CONTINENTAL DOGS SPANIEL VARIETIES. 



the most execrable management, and yet certain of our noble Veterinarians have 

 been the strong advocates of the tactics of the French school. The case, however, 

 was essentially altered on the access of the Anglomania in that Country, and when 

 the Due d' Orleans, still better known as Citoyen Egulite, began to breed and train 

 for the Course. Degeneration then ceased, and not only did the English Racer 

 preserve his health, condition, and spirit, and act np to his true English character, 

 but his posterity, the French bred racing stock, were found in a good place upon 

 the Turf, when opposed to imported English Racers. \\ ith respect to the match- 

 less ' inherent qualities' of our "Dogs, we apprehend we must, for truth and im- 

 partiality sake, recede a little. To adduce the Spaniel, our present subject, we 

 must own we never witnessed in any English dog of this species, that sagacity, 

 and if such a phrase he allowed, intellectual power, as in the French or Continental 

 Spaniel. To one of these which we knew seven years since, of the large and curly 

 variety, which was named Dejjorani, it would have been impossible for the most 

 confirmed sceptic on that score, to have denied the almost full possession of the reason- 

 ing faculty. \Ve really believe, he wanted nothing but the gift of speech, to place 

 him nearly upon a level with his master in point of intellect, and in that respect, 

 cannot help supposing that, there may have been even Ministers of State and 

 Senators not greath his superiors. The qualities of his heart also, were fully equal 

 to those of his head ; he was void of all offence, and not only most faithful and 

 affectionate to his master, and courageous in his service, but it seemed the 

 pleasure of his existence, to please and serve every one else. Sporting out of the 

 question, and with respect to the dogs destined to useful purposes, for example 

 draught and keeping sheep, we are doubtless greatly excelled upon the Continent. 

 Spaniels are divided into two Species, the land and the water Spaniel. The land 

 spaniel, of which particularly we now treat, is divided into three chief Varieties 

 The SPISINGEII, or large spaniel, the small or Cocking Spaniel, and the small, deli- 

 cate domestic spaniel, or Comforter. From these have issued almost endless 

 subdivisions and varieties, the result of fortuitous, whimsical, and capricious inter- 

 mixtures of breed, bearing indeed the external appearance of spaniels, but to be 

 considered as mere fancy-dogs, a breed always too numerous. The Royal Variety, 

 or King Charles's breed, doubtless belonging to the family of Cockers', black, or 

 black and white in colour, their chief characteristic being the black roof of the 

 mouth, is perhaps, by this time, entirely worn out as to original purity, although 

 some few may remain which bear that name. It is to be presumed, the favourite 

 dogs sa\ed from a watery grave by the humane Duke of York, afterwards James 

 the Second, were part of them, of this breed. The ship was sinking, which the 

 Royal Duke had left, and although his Royal Highness could admit no more two- 

 legged animals, commonly called men, into the boat, yet he called out lustily to 

 e, and took in his four-legged trnouritcs; the sinking seamen taking their leave 

 most loyally with three cheers. 



