CLASS I. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 



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I 



THE WATER-SPANIEL. 



The Water-Spaniel. — Of this breed there are two varieties, a larger and smaller, both useful 

 according to the degree of range or the work required ; the smaller, however, being ordinarily 

 preferable. In both, the head is long and the face smooth ; the limbs — more developed than 

 those of the springer — should be muscular, the carcass round, and the hair long and closely curled. 

 Docility and affection are stamped on the countenance of this animal, and he excels every other 

 breed in attachment to his master. In the field his work is double — first to find, when 

 ordered so to do, and to back behind the sportsman, when the game will be more advantageously 

 trodden up. In both he must be taught to be perfectly obedient to the voice, that he may be 

 kept within range, and not unnecessarily disturb the birds. A more important part of his duty, 

 however, is to find and bring the game that has dropped. To teach him to find is easy enough, 

 for a young water-spaniel will as readily take to the water as a pointer puppy will stop; but to 

 bring his game without tearing it is a more difficult lesson, and the most difficult of all is to make 

 him suspend the pursuit of the wounded game while the sportsman re-loads. The water-spaniel 

 was originally from Spain ; but the pure breed has been lost, and the present dog is probably 

 descended from the laro-e water-doo; and the Eno-lish setter. 



The water and land spaniels differ materially from each other. The water-spaniel, although 

 when at his work being all that his master can desire, is, when unemployed, comparatively a slow 

 and inactive dog; but under this sobriety of demeanor is concealed a strength and fidelity of 

 attachment to which the more lively land-spaniel cannot always lay just claim. 



Youatt tells us that he once saved a young water-spaniel from the persecution of a crowd of 

 people who had driven it into a passage, and were pelting it with stones. "The animal bad the 

 character of being, contrary to what his species usually are, exceedingly savage ; and he suffered 

 himself to be taken up by me and carried from his foes with a kind of sullenness ; but when, 

 being out of the reach of danger, he was put down, he gazed on his deliverer, and then crouched 

 at his feet. From that moment he attached himself to his new master with- an intensity of affec- 

 tion scarcely conceivable — never expressed by any boisterous caresses, but. by endeavoring to be 

 in some manner in contact with him ; resting his head upon his foot ; lying upon some portion of 

 his apparel, his eye intently fixed upon him, endeavoring to understand every expression of his 

 countenance. He would follow one gentleman, and one only, to the river-side, and. behave gal- 



