20 THE SPORTSMAN'S VADE MECUM. 



and either of the other setters is much valued by soma 

 breeders. 



SPANIEL. 



Of Spaniels there are several varieties, but of these the 

 Suffolk Cocker is the only one deserving a notice. All the 

 others are too noisy, too heedless, and too quick on their 

 legs. It is almost impossible to keep any one of them 

 steady, and, therefore, in this country at least, they are 

 totally useless, since you would not see them from the 

 beginning to the end of the day. Yaff! yaff ! half a mile 

 off, all the time putting up the birds, and you unable to 

 stop them. The Suffolk Cocker, on the contrary, is extremely 

 docile, can be easily broken, and kept in order. They are 

 extremely valuable, thirty-five guineas being a low price for 

 a brace of pure bred and well broken ones in England. The 

 right sort are scarce, even there. Here, with two exceptions, 

 I fancy they are not. 



SPANIEL AND COCKER. 



In appearance they are much like a raseed setter. The 

 head and muzzle is much the same length and size ; ears 

 rather more rounded, but not so long ; body deep, broad, 

 and long ; hair long and stiffish ; legs and feet remarkably 

 short, amounting almost to a deformity, and extraordinarily 

 strong ; tail short and bushy ; it is usually curtailed a couple 

 of joints. The purest colors are liver and white, fawn and 

 white, and yellow and white. These dogs are slow and 

 sure, remarkably close hunters, and obedient ; just the things 



