MR. JACOBS ON BLACK SPANIELS. 445 



kennel \s,fatile frinc:ps, at the head of affairs in the Black Spaniel world. Mr. Jacobs, it will be 

 seen from his remarks, although so successful as an exhibitor, has not yet quite obtained what he 

 wants, though from what we have seen and heard of his magnificent Kaffir, whose illustration 

 accompanies this article, we are of the opinion that he must be very hard to please if he is 

 in any way dissatisfied with this really typical dog. Mr. Jacobs writes as follows : 



" As a breeder and successful exhibitor of Spaniels, I freely give you, for the benefit of 

 your readers, the little knowledge I have acquired in the art of breeding and rearing of that 

 useful animal. What I write is not taken from books or former writers, but from my 

 experiments and experience, confining myself chiefly to the present fashionable and handsome 

 breed of Black Spaniel. 



" Much has been written and said on the purity of the breed, deprecating the means I 

 have adopted to produce them as calculated to alter a presumed type, and frequent missiles 

 have been hurled at me and my dogs from behind the hedge. But where is the pure-bred 

 Black Spaniel so much talked about ? Proof of the existence of the pure-bred one (if ever 

 there was one) has not been forthcoming ; like most other sporting dogs, they are the 

 result of different crosses. 



' I have bred many times from the most noted dogs and bitches said to be the only 

 pure strain of Black Spaniel, and have never known them to throw one even litter of blacks, 

 always a mixture liver, black, black-and-tan, liver-and-tan, black-and-white ; some with long, 

 some short, bodies and legs, curly, wavy, smooth, and all sizes and shapes. 



" What does this indicate ? Common-sense tells me, a cross with different types, varieties, 

 and colours some time or other must have been introduced. I never can believe there ever 

 was a distinct breed of Black Spaniel, nor do I believe that the Sussex is a distinct breed ; 

 it is true we can trace them back for many generations, like we do the Laverack Setter, but 

 how were they derived in the first place ? 



" We may keep to one strain for many years, and, in time, call them a distinct breed, 

 but what is the result ? To preserve that strain we must be continually breeding in and in to 

 one family, until we get them difficult to rear, weedy, and devoid of sense, when they become 

 useless for the purpose they are required (I have noticed the latter fault showing itself in the 

 Sussex). Therefore breeders have to resort to the crossing with another family, which may be of 

 a different type or colour ; by so doing you raise a great ' hubbub ' and cry that your dogs arc 

 not pure. In spite of these cries I followed my own dictation ; my great aim was to improve 

 the breed of Spaniels. Purity of breed I had foremost in my mind, which I do not consider 

 I sacrificed when I mated my black bitches with a liver-colour Sussex, the result of which was 

 a .decided improvement. Your readers may judge for themselves by having a look at Kaffir, 

 Zulu, and Squaw, and noting their performances. I did not. rest here, but thought there was still 

 room for improvement, and by breeding these Blacks together, I have produced something that 

 promises to eclipse everything I have yet seen. I am gradually creeping nearer the standard 

 I have marked out for my beacon, viz. : 



" Temperament. Pleasing temper I always look to first ; ' never breed from a bad-tempered 

 sporting dog, every sportsman knows what a nuisance they are. 



" A long body, short legs, with plenty of bone and feather, a perfect smooth, satin-like coat, 

 with no inclination to wave or curl, moderately long. 



" Ears, covered with long silky hair (not ringlets), well set low down, and hung close to 



