434 THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



Spaniels were trained to hunt feather only, and I greatJy suspect that these old strains were 

 purer Spaniels than any we have now, for a great writer has said that Spaniels have been 

 crossed with Beagles hence their preference for fur to feather ; and, indeed, in these days it 

 almost sounds fabulous to be told that formerly Spaniels existed which could readily be 

 taught to quest only for feather ; yet such well-broken teams did exist in Sussex ; and such 

 dogs might be had now by careful breeding, and if breakers were encouraged to devote to 

 Spaniel breaking that time of the year which is not required by the Pointers and Setters. 

 But it might be well to remind any one who may desire to give the thing a trial that the 

 Spaniels will in a great measure take their temper and disposition from the person with 

 whom they are daily associated ; so that to ensure success, a quiet, even-tempered man must 

 be selected as breaker. Great attention also must be devoted to the breeding of the dogs, 

 for it must be borne in mind how difficult it is to get rid of any faulty formation or habit 

 when once it runs through the blood of a kennel ; in fact, to get together a trustworthy team 

 requires as much attention to their breeding and education as is devoted to Setters and 

 Pointers. 



" The Sussex Spaniel was so jealously guarded that from one cause or another (the 

 celebrated Rosehill Spaniels were destroyed, owing to an outbreak of dumb madness) pure 

 specimens became exceedingly rare, when, I believe, some who had specimens crossed them 

 with other strains of Spaniels, and, being disappointed with the result, gave up the attempt 

 to resuscitate their breed. 



"In the year 1867 Mr. Thomas Burgess won first prize at Birmingham in each large-sized 

 Spaniel class with Sam and flora, two liver-coloured Spaniels with white markings, and 

 their breeder, Mr. John Hopcroft, maintained that they were directly descended from an old 

 Sussex breed. Their appearance and origin caused a lengthy discussion in the press, and it 

 was conclusively proved that, even if Mr. Hopcrpft's strain had once been Sussex pure, some 

 cross had been introduced, hence the liver-and-white specimens Sam and Flora. 



"Sussex Spaniels were also crossed with Water Spaniels, and again with the old breed of 

 black Cocker, by which means it is understood Mr. Bullock produced his well-known black 

 Spaniels Bob and Nellie (brother and sister), and these being mated together produced the 

 liver-coloured George, which had so many attributes of the Sussex Spaniel. 



"About this time (1^872) a few lovers of the breed banded together, and obtained special 

 classes at several shows. Birmingham followed suit in 1874, at which show the above- 

 mentioned George was awarded second prize to Mr. Eddowes's Rufus. At this show I 

 myself entered a protest against George, on the ground that, being the progeny of two 

 black Spaniels, he could not be a Sussex Spaniel. The protest was disallowed, under the 

 usual Birmingham regulation that, if possible, the decisions of the judges should resemble the 

 laws of the Medes and Persians. However, the following year (1875) the same dog was 

 exhibited at Birmingham under the same judges, and was passed unnoticed, since when he 

 has been withdrawn from Sussex competitions. 



"The chief prize-takers from this date down to the present time may, without egotism, 

 be said to be my own Buckingham and Maude (of pure Rosehill blood) ; and the progeny 

 of this pair viz, Mr. Saxby's (afterwards Mr. Jacobs's, lately deceased) Bachelor, my (now 

 Mr. Bates's) Lizzie, Rover III. (now Mr. Parkinson's), and my (now Mr. Gamon's) Max, and 

 my (now Mr. Hawkins's) Duchess III.; Mr. Spurgin's Sydney and Major; Mr. Richardson's 

 Buz, Beaver, and Beau ; and the Rev. W. Shield's Bras. In addition to these, which were 

 all got by Buckingham or out of Maude, the most celebrated are Mr. A. \V. Langdale's 



