270 



THE COCKER SPANIEL. 



that however spirited a Spaniel may be, it must not raise its tail above the level of its 

 back. For the purpose of sport, a Spaniel must be possessed of a thick coat, as it is sub- 

 ject to continual wetting from the dripping coverts through which it has to force its way. 

 It should be also a tolerably large Dog, not weighing less than fourteen pounds if pos- 

 sible, and may with advantage weigh some thirty or forty pounds, as do the breed known 

 by the name of the " Clumber " Spaniels. These last-mentioned animals work silently. 

 Examples are given in the accompanying illustration of three kinds of Cocker 

 Spaniels. The dark Dog, that occupies the foreground, is a Welsh Cocker ; and the 

 other two Dogs are ordinary Cockers. 



ps^, 



COCKER SPANIELS. 



V 



THE COCKER is altogether a smaller animal, seldom weighing above twenty pounds, 

 and very often being only ten or twelve pounds in weight. It is an active and lively 

 animal, dashing about its work with an air of gay enjoyment that assists materially in 

 enlivening the spirits of its master. There are many breeds of this Dog, among which 

 the English, Welsh, and Devonshire Cockers maybe mentioned as well-known examples. 



It is a courageous little creature, retaining its dashing boldness even when imported 

 into the enervating Indian climate, which destroys the spirit of most Dogs, and even 

 reduces the stubborn bull-dog to a mere poltroon. Captain Williamson, in his book of 

 " Oriental Field Sports," records an instance of rash courage on the part of one of 

 these little Dogs. 



" I was shooting near some underwood, rather thinly scattered among reedy grass, 

 growing on the edges of a large water-course, which took its rise near the foot of the 

 large hill at Muckun Gunge, when suddenly one of a brace of fine cocking Spaniels I 

 had with me ran round a large bush greatly agitated, and apparently on some game 

 which I expected to put up. 



