428 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



sportsmen. It must, not, however, be imagined that dogs were used in the field to anything 

 like the extent that they came to be subsequently. Netting was the great means by 

 which game was secured in the days Nicholas Cox wrote his work the " Gentleman's Recrea- 

 tion," and the major portion of it was taken up with hunting, fishing, and snaring of the 

 different varieties of birds. He, however, seems to have laid himself out to give directions 

 upon the breaking and working of several breeds of dog, and, as will be seen in a sub- 

 sequent chapter, devoted considerable space to the working of what he termed the water- 

 dog. 



Sydenham Edwards, writing in 1801, in " Cynographia Britannica," gives an excellent 

 description of the Spaniel, as well as a coloured plate containing four dogs. One of these is 

 liver-and-white, another black-and-white, a third orange-and-white, and the last a sort of sandy 

 liver. The only one that is standing up is the liver-and-white ; it is represented as a long-bodied 

 dog, with legs rather light in bone, and wide skull and hairy ears lying flat to the head. The tail 

 is docked and is well feathered, but the feather on the legs is not very extensive, though the thighs 

 are heavily breeched. The coat in two out of the four specimens is curly, but the dog referred 

 to above is flat-coated except upon his back, chest, and loins, where there is a decided ripple. 

 The whole-coloured dog is smooth-headed but very curly behind. In his remarks upon this breed 

 Mr. Edwards states : 



" This was usually distinguished by. the name of land Spaniel, in centra-distinction to 

 water Spaniel, and may be divided into two kinds, the Springing, Hauking Spaniel, or Starter, 

 and the Cocker, or Cocking Spaniel. The first was used for springing the game when falconry 

 was amongst the prevalent sports of this island, and as it made one of the principal pursuits 

 of our British ancestors, the chieftains maintained a considerable number of birds for the 

 purpose. The discovery of the gun superseding the use of the falcon, the powers of the dog 

 were directed to the new acquisition, but his fleetness, wildness, and courage in quest of game 

 rendering him difficult to manage, a more useful kind was established, with shorter limbs and 

 less speed. Yet some of the true Springers still remain about London, but are rarely found 

 in any other part of the country. These are little different from the larger Spaniel or Setter, 

 except in size ; generally of a red or red-and-white colour ; thinly-formed ears, rather short ; 

 long limbed ; the coat wavy and silky ; the tail somewhat bushy, and seldom cut 



" Differing from this is the Cocker, esteemed for his compact form, having the head round, 

 nose short, ears long, and the larger the more admired, limbs short and strong, the coat more 

 inclined to curl than the Springer's, and longer, particularly on the tail, which is commonly 

 truncated. Colour liver-and-white, red, red-and-white, black-and-white, all liver colour, and 

 sometimes black with tanned legs and muzzle. . . . The term Cocker is taken from the 

 Woodcock, which they are taught to hunt. . . . 



"Spaniels are used as finders, or starters, to the Greyhound, and pursue the hare with the 

 same impetuosity as they do birds. Their beautiful coats, their faithful dispositions, humble 

 and insinuating manners, suavity, and obedience even to servility, procure them universal 

 favour; but the gunner loves them for their intrinsic merit, bestows great pains on breaking 

 them to the gun, and when properly broke or educated is amply repaid for their services, 

 being indefatigable in their exertions, beating the coverts, brakes, and ditches in pursuit 

 of game ; their tails carried downwards, perpetually moving from side to side, and this 

 motion, called feathering, becomes more rapid when they have caught the scent, eagerly 

 following with frequent whimpers till it is disturbed, of which they give notice by repeated 



