EARLY HISTORY OF TOY SPANIELS. 163 



In the " Naturalist's Library," by Sir William Jardine, published in 1843, the only allusion 

 made to Toy Spaniels is as follows : 



"KING CHARLES SPANIEL. 



A beautiful breed, in general black-and-white, and presumed to be the parent of 



THE COCKER, 



who is usually black, and shorter in the back than the Spaniel. This appears to be the Gredin 

 of Buffon. The Blenheim, Marlborough, or Pyrame of Buffon, is very similar to the above, but 

 the black colour is relieved by fire-coloured spots above the eyes, and the same on the breast 

 and feet ; the muzzle is fuller, and the back rather short. The Maltese dog (Cants Melitteus) 

 the Bichon or Chien Bouffe of Buffon, is the most ancient of the small Spaniel races, being 

 figured on Roman monuments and noticed by Strabo ; the muzzle is rounder, the hair very long, 

 silky, and usually white, the stature very small, and only fit for ladies' lap-dogs." 



From the above description it would almost appear that the modern Blenheim Spaniel was 

 practically unknown in the year 1843; but it is incredible that such could be the case; and 

 we must therefore presume that the opinion of Sir William Jardine is not altogether reliable as 



TOY SPANIELS. From " Icones Animalium. n 



regards the subject of colour, which in the present day is a matter of very considerable importance 

 in judging Toy Spaniels. We are strengthened in this opinion by the following extract from the 

 Sportsman's Repository, written by John Scott, and published in 1820, which states that, "Twenty 

 years ago (i.e., 1800) His Grace the Duke of Marlborough was reputed to possess the smallest 

 and best breed of Cockers in Britain ; they were invariably red-and-white, with very long ears, 

 short noses, and black eyes." 



Before passing on to the points of the two breeds, regret must be expressed at the gross 

 neglect which these beautiful and highly-interesting little pets have experienced at the hands of 

 the public. In intelligence and natural vivacity they are so far in advance of other ladies' toys, 

 that it seems incredible that they should for so long a time occupy an inferior position to the 

 uninteresting and often quarrelsome Pug. A ladies' pet need not be condemned to a life-long 

 existence in his mistress's boudoir ; and the extreme stupidity of the generality of Pugs when out 

 of doors is rendered eminently conspicuous by the very different behaviour of a King Charles or 

 Blenheim Spaniel. Doubtless the fact of a Spaniel possessing a long coat, which requires constant 

 brushing to keep in good order, is an obstacle in the way of its popularity ; but the beauty of the 

 dog amply repays any trouble bestowed upon it, and a little care and attention devoted to the 

 toilet of a " Charlie " or Blenheim is certain to be repaid a hundred-fold by the improvement it 

 invariably effects in the dog's appearance. As a matter of fact we have ourselves owned several 

 Toy Spaniels, which, but for the delicacy of their coats, were capable of entering any brushwood. 

 That they frequently attempted to do so in the course of country rambles their torn skins fully 

 attested ; but the early repetition of the conduct bore testimony to the animal's love of sport and 

 plucky temperament. Unfortunately, however, the long coat gets clogged with mud and matted 



