DOGS USED IN SPORT 79 



breeders of the present day. Height should not be 

 over eighteen or twenty inches. Legs, both short and 

 strong, in fact, so much so that, with his deep, well- 

 coated body, he shows little " daylight " below him, 

 as he stands or walks. Head, large, long, coloured to 

 a line under the eyes, and showing a " blaze " up the 

 face. Eyes, rather small for size of head, sunken, pen- 

 sive, and thoughtful. Nose, dark flesh, or liver, col- 

 oured. Ears, large and much feathered, below, where 

 the fleshy part of the ear ends. Neck, long, strong, 

 and muscular. Back, straight and long. Chest, wide, 

 also the shoulders, and substantial, likewise the fore- 

 arm, which is very heavy for his size. Hocks, and 

 hind quarters, large, bony, and very muscular. Loins, 

 not arched, but straight. Ribs, round and prominent, 

 back-ribs, in particular, very deep. Stern, set on low, 

 looks best " docked," as is usually the case, with a little 

 hair hanging at the fag end. Coat should be not too 

 full in quantity, but very straight, silky, shining, and 

 soft, in texture. The appearance and general char- 

 acter being that of a high class, dignified specimen of 

 the sporting dog, well able to do all that can be reason- 

 ably required of him, but with no idea of being dictated 

 to, hurried, or " put out of the way," by any one. 



The Irish Water Spaniel. The head of the Irish 

 Water Spaniel is rather large, forehead prominent, face 

 perfectly smooth from eyes down, ears from twenty- 

 four to twenty-six inches long from end to end ; head 

 should be crowned with a well-defined top-knot, not 

 straggling across, like the common Water Dog, but 



