NATUEAL HISTOKY OF THE SPANIEL. 271 



Printed authorities vary considerably when making 

 the definition of the spaniel. One says, " The 

 cocker, or gun spaniel, of true perfect breed, is of one 

 general or whole colour, either black, or black tan, 

 commonly called King Charles's breed; or red in 

 different shades, paler or deeper : " and another says, 

 " The true English bred spaniel differs but little from 

 the setter, save in size." 



Of all species, the spaniel has the truest attach- 

 ment to the human race, and is of the gayest as well as 

 the most affectionate disposition. In form it is that of 

 the small setter; the colours of the silky hair being 

 either black and white, liver-coloured and white, pied, 

 brown, or black. The so-termed water spaniel is best 

 known by its alertness in hunting and swimming in 

 the water ; its hair, also, is a little harder and stiffer 

 than the land spaniel. The springer, too well known 

 as the gun spaniel to need specification, is usually 

 smaller than the water spaniel (a dog greatly used in 

 decoys); its shape is particularly graceful, and its 

 liveliness renders it a great favourite with gunners 

 used to this breed : it is generally a white-haired dog, 

 with rich red spots and black muzzle ; while the 

 cocker is oftenest black, and is a smaller dog, with 

 shorter legs, and shorter in the back. It has also a 

 shorter and rounder head, and is altogether of more 

 compact frame and make ; the ears long and silky, as 

 well as the tail and legs, and the hair all more curly 

 than the larger spaniel. King Charles's spaniel is 

 supposed to be the parent of the cocker breed of dogs. 



