45* 



CHAPTER LVIII. 



THE ENGLISH WATER SPANIEL. 



UNFORTUNATELY the old English Water Spaniel has of late years practically ceased to exist 

 as a breed, though isolated specimens are occasionally met with in out-of-the-way parts of the 

 country. This is greatly to be deplored, as the extinction of any variety is generally 

 deplored by naturalists, and the loss to sportsmen of so valuable a breed is a matter of 

 considerable moment. We think it is very probable that the extra attention which 

 Retrievers have been paid recently, has done a great deal towards injuring the position of 

 the English Water Spaniel ; but it is beyond a doubt, putting theory on one side, that the 

 Irish Water Spaniel has, of late years, made ground in this country where his English 

 relative has lost it. We do not mean it to be taken that the Irish Water Spaniel is in the 

 position he should be, either here or in his own country, but it is a fact that he has not 

 fared so badly, or sunk so low as the English Spaniel has done, and it is to be hoped that 

 he never will find himself in so bad a condition. 



The Water Spaniel, however, was at one time highly estimated in this country, where his 

 many virtues were fully recognised by sportsmen who felt the want of a good dog in the 

 pursuit of game. An admirable description of the Water Spaniel is given by Dr. John Caius 

 in his " Englishe Dogges," and the worthy author devotes a considerable portion of his space 

 to this breed. His description of it is as follows : 



"Of the Dogge called the water Spanicll, or finder, 

 "in Latine Aquaticus seuinquisitor. 



"That kinde of dogge whose seruice is required in fowling vpon the water, partly through 

 a naturall towardnesse, and partly by diligent teaching, is indued with that property. This 

 sort is somewhat bigge, and of a measurable greatnesse, hauing long, rough, and curled heare, 

 not obtayned by extraordinary trades, but giuen by natures appointment, yet neuerthelcssc 

 (friend Gesner) I have described and set him out in this maner, namely powlde and netted 

 from the shoulders to the hindermost legges, and to the end of his tayle, which I did for use 

 and customs cause, that beyng as it were made somewhat bare and naked, by shearing of 

 such superfluitie of heare, they might atchiue the more lightnesse, and swiftnesse, and be lesse 

 hindered in swymming, so troublesome and needelesse a burthen being shaken of. This kinde 

 of dogge is properly called Aquaticus, a water spaniel because he frcquenteth and hath vsual 

 recourse to the water where all his game & exercise lyeth, namely, waterfowles, which are 

 taken by the help & service of them, in their kind. And principally duckes and drakes, 

 whereupon he is lykewise named a dogge for the ducke, because in that qualitie he is excel- 

 lent. With these dogges also we fetche out of the water such fowle as be stounge to death 

 by any venemous worme, we vse them also to bring vs our boultcs and nn-owcs out of the 



