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C H A P T E R L I V. 



BLACK SPANIELS. 



THESE engaging dogs have of late years almost monopolised the classes provided at dog 

 shows for Spaniels other than Sussex or Clumber, and their popularity is still increasing rapidly. 

 As a beautiful dog, the Black Spaniel certainly ranks very highly, whilst as the companion of the 

 sportsman he is invaluable. Opinions differ very considerably upon the purity of the breed, and 

 even its most ardent admirers have in some instances been brought to affirm that the Black Spaniel 

 is a mongrel ; others are equally positive in their assertions that it is nothing of the sort, but that 

 many specimens can trace an unbroken pedigree. 

 Mr. A. W. Langdale has written as follows : 



" This breed of Spaniels is most popular and highly prized, and has in the last few years 

 been brought up to a standard of excellence such as has never before been arrived at. A 

 team of black Springers ; for so the large size of this breed are called, in their jet-coloured 

 satin-like coats, on a bright winter's morning, on a snow-covered track, look lovely ! I say the 

 large size are called Springers, and this is so because of their peculiar movement among turnips, 

 swedes, or mangolds, where, directly they get wind of fur or feather, they jump about from 

 ruck to ruck in quite a different style to their Sussex or more sombre Clumber brethren. 

 The blacks, as a rule, are not favourite dogs for covert shooting, as their colour behoves a 

 sportsman to be very good-sighted or his pet may be made to suffer for his quarry. They 

 arc not so noisy or babbling as the Sussex, and I have seen some of the old-fashioned sort 

 work up to their game with scarcely a note. Of late, to obtain smooth coats and shortness of 

 leg, there has been a great deal of crossing between the Black and Sussex breeds ; and I 

 should say that, although it is not quite the thing, still it has undoubtedly had the desired 

 effect, as seldom have there (if ever) been better Blacks before the public than have been 

 shown at our recent exhibitions. I believe that Mr. Burdett first brought out the Black 

 Spaniel, and it was from him that Mr. Phineas Bullock secured the cream of his world-wide 

 known kennel. Amongst this team were such raven-coloured beauties as were the admiration 

 of all breeders, and Mr. Bullock knew it, and kept his breed to himself. Old Bob, Flirt, and 

 Nellie, to say nothing of Bruce, were indeed grand specimens Nellie especially. By some of 

 our most experienced judges this bitch was held up as the beau idtol of the Black Field 

 Spaniel ; she had a lovely head, ears, and eyes, and I quite endorse the opinion of the critics 

 in saying I never saw her equal. Dr. W. W. Boulton had also a different strain, produced 

 originally, I believe, from a liver-coloured bitch called Fern. However, this gentleman 

 understood his work, and produced at different times such dogs as Beaver, my Lome, Regent, 

 Bruce alias Buccleugh, Beverlac, Runic, Brush, Black Prince, Blanchette, Pearl, &c., to say 

 nothing of a grand team of black Cockers to be alluded to elsewhere. Dr. Boulton's dogs were, 

 with few exceptions, straighter in the coat than those of his confrere Mr. Bullock, and so 

 when they met each other in the judging ring it was always a very near squeak for either, 



