456 



THE BOOK OF THE DOG. 



the Water-dog had no trace of the Greenland dog in him, for he remarks, a little further 

 on, after he has repeated his assertion that the Water-dog was not a British crossbred 

 dog, that there is far more probability in the supposed origin of the Water Spaniel from 

 the Springer and the Water-dog, the Water Spaniel wearing the face and ear and somewhat of 

 the form and air of the Springer, together with the Water-dog's curly coat ; so that, at any 

 rate, there can be but little doubt but Water Spaniels might be manufactured by such a cross. 



WATER-DOG (1803), FROM THE " Sl'ORTSMAS's CA1MNKI." 



These views have always been our own, as it seems to us to be the most natural course 

 for breeders to pursue, if they were anxious to improve the Water-dog. Crossing with a 

 Spaniel would be by far the most likely means to gain them what they wanted, as the 

 questing propensities of the latter would add to the powers of the Water-dog, who, in his 

 turn, would increase the size, and also improve the texture of the Spaniel's coat. In our 

 opinion, the precise origin of the Water-dog is really a small matter of importance after all, 

 though his existence at the commencement of the century is an unquestionable fact. Still, 

 though the Water-dog does not appear in later years in the same form as he appeared 

 then, we believe that he is represented in the Water Spaniel, and have, therefore, been at 

 considerable trouble to describe him fully, as he deserves to be in his position of the 

 founder of a breed. One fact is worth remarking upon in connection with the size of the 

 Water Spaniel of 1820, and that was, we are told, "a medium between the Springer and the 



