COLOUR OF SUSSEX SPANIELS. 437 



say 8 1 inches, a bitch half an inch less. The ears should be large, but not heavily feathered ; 

 no curl is admissible, and the shape of the ear is almost spoon-shaped, the mouth of the 

 spoon at the top ; they must be set low on the head. The eye is full, and always hazel- 

 coloured. The nose liver-coloured and broad, not to say square. Fore-legs in many of the 

 dogs I have been shown as pure bred are bowed, but why this should be I don't know. It 

 will have the effect of making them slower at their work, and possibly that is desirable, but 

 for appearance give me straight limbs. Let them be well feathered in the fore-legs, but not 

 so below the hocks in the hind. The weight for a dog I put at 40 Ibs., a bitch 35 Ibs. His 

 shape and make must be long, low, and heavy ; his stern must be docked to about IO in., 

 and when at work should be carried below the level of the back. Toes and feet should be 

 firm and compact, and well fringed between the former. Colour should be golden-liver puce 

 or a dead brown is decidedly objectionable and the less white on the chest the better. Coat 

 must be flat, not Pointer-coated nor yet Setter but just between the two ; a slight wave is not 

 unbecoming." 



After so much has been said in favour of the Sussex Spaniel by the above two gentlemen, 

 both of whom have worked so hard on its behalf, there can remain but little to be added by 

 ourselves. The existence of a breed of Spaniels which was identified with the county of Sussex 

 was known in the days of Taplin and Scott, and Youatt, in his book, makes the following 

 observations anent this variety, for he says : " The largest and best breed of Springers is said 

 to be in Sussex, and is much esteemed in the Wealds of that county." This is by far the 

 handsomest compliment which has been paid the Sussex up to Youatt's time, and no doubt 

 the writer meant what he said, for the inhabitants of Sussex undoubtedly set great store upon 

 their breed of Spaniels. 



As in other varieties of dogs, colour has been a fruitful cause for discussion amongst 

 admirers of the Sussex Spaniel, and though specimens of the correct shade have appeared in 

 public, and won prizes at great shows, there have been objections raised against them on the 

 grounds that they were not pure Sussex ; nor, indeed, were they such. The case of George, at 

 Birmingham, which Mr. Bowers alludes to above, is a case in point, for here was a good liver- 

 coloured dog, the offspring of black parents. It must not, therefore, be by any means taken 

 for granted that a Spaniel is a pure-bred Sussex because his coat is of the desired colour. 

 This should be a rich golden liver which does not in the smallest degree resemble the liver of 

 the Water Spaniel, which is more of a puce colour. The acquisition of the peculiar shade, 

 so characteristic of the Sussex, is one of the chief points for a breeder to have in view, and 

 without it no admirer of this variety would be quite satisfied. Unfortunately, owing to the 

 many vicissitudes through which the breed has passed, and the numerous crosses which have, 

 in consequence, been resorted to, there are a number of dogs to be met with who do not possess 

 the proper shade of colour. Mention has, in fact, been made of dogs who, in many respects, 

 resembled the true-bred Sussex, but who were disfigured by white markings, which would be 

 fatal to their chances of success in competition, as breeders of this variety are singularly 

 unanimous in their opinion upon the subject of colour. 



As a workman, the Sussex lays strong claim upon the sportsman. Though not mute, they 

 are not " babblers," and, in this respect, we must, with all due deference, differ from the opinion 

 expressed above by Mr. A. W. Langdale, who describes him as a noisy babbling dog. The 

 Sussex throws his tongue in covert, but that he is noisy few of his supporters will, we think, 

 be brought to admit. As regards his staying powers there is no question, for, being lighter in 



