A POEM. 35 



And thro' his aid to seek one dead, have known, 

 Before the object's gain'd, a covey's flown. 

 The wild fowl Shot should never be without 

 His needful services, for without doubt, 

 Let them be few or many here's the sequel, 

 As a good water dog, he has no equal. 



P'rhaps the most difficult of any kind, 

 Faultless to own, Sportsmen will ever find 

 The Spaniel breed ; and none more useful are, 

 Or in their breaking, call for greater care. 

 In ev'ry kind of sporting dog, I prize, 

 For obvious reasons, those of middling size ; 

 But 'specially 'mongst these, for here the gain 

 Is twofold, which by medium we obtain ; 

 If of large growth, their services, we find, 

 Mostly to woods and copses are confin'd ; 

 If double hedges they're requir'd to run, 

 Their size prevents, and thus their day's work's done. 

 The smaller kinds can act this part the best, 

 If they're with strength, and shaggy jackets blest; 



