THE DOG. 53 



clubs have been formed for the purpose of breeding and introducing 

 him more generally. His points of form are, 



"The head (value 15) should be long, with a marked brow, but 

 still only gradually rising from the nose, and the occipital protuber- 

 ance well defined. Nose long and broad, without any tendency to 

 the snipe form. Eye expressive, soft, and gentle, but not too full 

 or watery. 



" The ear (value 5) should be set on low down, lobular in shape, 

 not over-long in the leather or too heavily clothed with feather, 

 which should always be wavy and free from ringlets. 



" The neck (value 5) should be long enough to allow the nose to 

 reach the ground easily, strong and arched, coming easily out of 

 well-shaped shoulders. 



" Chest, back, and loins (value 20). The chest should be deep 

 and with a good girth ; back and loin full of muscle, and running 

 well into one another, with wide couplings and well-turned hind- 

 quarters. 



"The length (value 5) of the spaniel should be rather more than 

 twice his height at the shoulder. 



" The legs (value 10) must be full of bone and straight ; elbows 

 neither in nor out ; quarters full of muscle, and stifles strong but 

 not very much bent. 



" The feet (value 10) are round and cat-like, well clothed with hair 

 between the toes, and the pads furnished with very thick horn. 



" The color (value 5) preferred is a brilliant black, but in the 

 best strains of the dog an occasional liver or red puppy will 

 appear. 



" The coat (value 10) is flat, slightly wavy, soft and silky ; the 

 legs are well fringed or feathered like the setter, as are also the ears ; 

 there must be no topknot or curl between the eyes, indicating a cross 

 of the water-spaniel. 



" The tail (value 10), which is always cropped short, must have 

 a downward carriage, and should not be set on too high. 



" The symmetry (value 5) of the spaniel is considerable, and any 

 departure from it should be penalized accordingly." 



