THE IRISH WATER SPANIEL. 465 



Duck cross. The hind-legs should be well bent in the stifle ; hocks well let down, well 

 feathered to the hocks, below that smooth in front, but feathered behind. 



" The Tail is rather short and free from feather, thick at the root, and tapering to a sting ; 

 a dog with a feathered tail shows cross breeding somewhere. 



" In Build they should be strong, not flat-sided, but ribs well sprung, with moderately 

 deep chest, which should not be too wide or it will interfere with his speed in swimming. 



" In Colour they should be a very dark puce liver, not a sandy-coloured liver, and free 

 from white. I am not going so far as some who have written about the breed, and say that 

 a dog with a little white on the chest or across a toe, or toes, is impure in breeding, for 

 in nearly every litter there are some with a small white star, which must of necessity be 

 as pure as their more fortunate brothers who were pupped clear of white." 



There is not much that can be added to Mr. J. S. Skidmore's description of the breed, for he 

 has, we think, contrived to lay his views before our readers with singular lucidity. We do not, how- 

 ever, much admire an extremely small foot in a dog whose duties compel him to pass a considerable 

 portion of his time in the water. As far as our personal experience goes, a large dog such as 

 the Irish Water Spaniel really is is benefited by large feet, which, acting as paddles when he 

 swims, must naturally afford a greater resistance to the water than small ones could possibly 

 do, and we therefore should prefer the larger foot, of course on the understanding that they 

 are properly formed and clothed with hair. A peculiarity with regard to the coat may also 

 be alluded to by us, and that is where it appears on the fore-legs. These should not only be 

 well feathered on the back and sides, but should be abundantly provided with small crisp curls in 

 front, which has the effect of causing them to appear very much stouter than they really are. In 

 the case of the hind-legs, though smooth in front, they carry feather behind all the way down to 

 the ground when the dog is in good coat ; and these are points of importance which should not be 

 lost sight of when the merits of Irish Water Spaniels have to be decided. 



Amongst the best-known names in connection with this breed of dog those of the following 

 gentlemen appear most prominently : Mr. J. S. Skidmore, Nantwich ; Mr. James Fletcher, 

 Stoneclough ; Mr. N. Morton, Ballymena ; Captain E. Montressor, Bedford ; Mr. W. B. Bridgett, 

 Clapham ; and the Rev. A. Willett. 



The dog which we have selected for illustration as a typical specimen of the Irish Water 

 Spaniel is (the now unfortunately late) Captain, who was the property of Mr. Hugh E. C. Beaver. 

 Captain was never exhibited, as his owner, being devoted to travelling in foreign parts, had other 

 uses for him. It may, however, be remarked that Captain accompanied his master twice round 

 the world ; and we have been assured by Mr. Beaver that there are sons and daughters of his old 

 dog in almost every part of the globe. We can personally bear testimony to his grand colour, 

 symmetry, and general quality, in addition to his good qualities in the field and his perfect 

 behaviour in the house, all of which proved him to be in every respect worthy of representa- 

 tion in our pages as a thoroughly characteristic dog of his breed. Had Captain's lot been 

 thrown in other places, we are confident that high honours would have been accorded him on 

 the bench ; but, as we have said before, his destiny lay in another direction. Unfortunately, 

 we are unable to give his pedigree, for he came into Mr. Beaver's possession by chance and 

 through the immediate agency of a Leadenhall Market dealer, just as his purchaser was on the 

 eve of starting for a tour round the world. 



Captain measured Length of head, Scinches; girth of muzzle, S| inches; girth of skull, 

 17 inches ; girth of chest, 28 inches ; girth of fore-leg, J\ inches ; height at shoulder, 21 inches. 

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