ALL SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO RETRIEVE. 137 



less than the springers, and showing far more liveliness in 

 their actions. All the field spaniels carry their tails low and 

 work them in the same position, but this property is very 

 remarkable in the cockers, which also work them more 

 quickly than the springer. The Devonshire and Welsh 

 breeds are always of a rich liver colour, as represented in the 

 accompanying group, where the dogs in the background are 

 two of the ruany nondescript varieties of this subdivision. 



The King Charles s and Blenheims originally belonged to 

 the group known as cockers, but they are now only used as 

 toy-dogs. 



HUNTING OP SPANIELS BY FOOT-SCENT. 



Unlike tlie pointer and setter, the spaniel always works 

 with his nose on the ground, and does not carry his head in 

 the air feeling for a body-scent as it is wafted towards him 

 on the gale. It is quite true that occasionally he looks for 

 and finds a pheasant in covert, which has been for a long 

 time lying, and here he undoubtedly recognises the scent 

 given off by the body, but this is done at no great distance off; 

 and though he tries all heights to which he can reach, his 

 carriage is not limited to the one, steady and bold, which is 

 found to suit the pointer. Hence there is, in my opinion, 

 no objection to a whole team being taught to retrieve, if it 

 can be done, excepting that where the task is divided among 

 a number, it is not so well performed for want of sufficient 

 practice. Nor does it often happen that an average dog will 

 retrieve thoroughly, the task being a very difficult one, and 

 requiring the selection of one dog out of a goodly number in 

 order to obtain a really accomplished retriever. I need 

 scarcely remark that if, as I have known, spaniels are used 

 in the open, they work somewhat differently to their covert 

 style, with a higher carriage, but still not at all like the 

 pointer. There are here, as in all rules, exceptions; but, 

 nevertheless, the rule holds good with which I commenced 

 this paragraph. 



ALL SHOULD BE TAUGHT TO RETRIEVE. 



Although, as I before remarked, all spaniels are not capable 

 of being converted into good special retrievers, yet all should 



