POJNTS of THE WATER SPANIEL. 461 



opinion that the task would ultimately prove remunerative, and we should greatly like to see 

 the attempt made if it were properly conducted. 



Unlike the Irish Water Spaniel, the breed in question should have no top-knot, and a cross 

 of blood may thus be detected easily. He is higher on the leg and larger in the foot than 

 the land Spaniel, and, unlike his Irish cousin, the English Water Spaniel usually has his tail 

 shortened considerably. 



A comparison of Mr. A. W. Langdale's description with the illustration given in the 

 preceding chapter, will tend to prove that the old English Water Spaniel, as portrayed in the 

 illustration, was a different kind of dog to that of more recent years. In our opinion it is very 

 probable that the first promoters of a cross between the Water-dog and Spaniel soon discovered 

 that they were getting too open a coat in their dogs, and that the latter could not so well 

 resist the cold and exposure to the wet as the more curly-coated varieties. To remedy this 

 a more liberal infusion of Water-dog blood was no doubt subsequently introduced, and this 

 may have occurred after the illustration which we reprint was published. Youatt's description, 

 which we also referred to in the last chapter, certainly describes the coat of the Water Spaniel 

 as being " closely curled," and this, we think, makes our view of the case still more probable. 

 Later illustrations, too, which have appeared in earlier works on the dog, almost all depict 

 the English Water Spaniel as being very curly in his coat, and showing more of the Water- 

 dog character, and this is clearly discernible in his head, which is blunter and heavier than 

 that of the early illustration which we have given of the Water Spaniel as existing early in 

 the century. 



In treating of this breed we have found it a matter of difficulty to draw up a scale which 

 entirely meets our views, but after considerable reflection we have determined upon the fol- 

 lowing as a 



STANDARD OF POINTS FOR JUDGING ENGLISH WATER SPANIF.LS. 



Valu;. 



Head ... 5 



Ears and eyes ... ... ... ... .. .. ... 5 



Shoulder and clicst ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 



Body ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 



Feet and legs ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 



Loins ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 



Coat ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 10 



General appearance ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 



Total ... ... ... 50 



