THE SPORTING SPANIEL 153 



with hocks set very low, stifles rather straight, feathered all over, 

 except inside from the hocks down, which part should be covered with 

 short hair (a most distinctive point). Feet The feet large and rather 

 spreading as is proper for a water dog, well clothed with hair. Stern 

 The stern covered with the shortest of hair, except for the first couple 

 of inches next the buttocks, whiplike or stinglike (a most important 

 point), and carried low, not like a hound's. Coat The coat composed 

 entirely of short crisp curls, not woolly like a Poodle's, and very dense. 

 If left to itself, this coat mats or cords, but this is not permissible in 

 show dogs. The hair on the muzzle and forehead below the topknot 

 is quite short and smooth, as well as that on the stern. General 

 Appearance Is not remarkable for symmetry, but is quaint and 

 intelligent looking. Height The height should be between 21 and 

 23 inches. 



III. THE ENGLISH WATER SPANIEL.- In the Kennel Club's 

 Register of Breeds no place is allotted to this variety, all 

 Water Spaniels other than Irish being classed together. 

 Despite this absence of official recognition there is abundant 

 evidence that a breed of Spaniels legitimately entitled to the 

 designation of English Water Spaniels has been in existence 

 for many years, in all probability a descendant of the old 

 " Water-Dogge," "an animal closely resembling the French 

 " Barbet," the ancestor of the modern Poodle. They were 

 even trimmed at times much in the same way as a Poodle is 

 nowadays, as Markham gives precise directions for " the 

 cutting or shearing him from the nauill downeward or backe- 

 ward." The opinion expressed by the writer of The Sports- 

 man's Cabinet, 1803, is that the breed originated from a cross 

 between the large water dog and the Springing Spaniel, and 

 this is probably correct, though Youatt, a notable authority, 

 thinks that the cross was with an English Setter. Possibly 

 some strains may have been established in this way, and not 

 differ very much in make and shape from those obtained from 

 the cross with the Spaniel, as it is well known that Setters and 

 Spaniels have a common origin. 



In general appearance the dog resembles somewhat closely 

 the Springer, except that he may be somewhat higher on the 

 leg, and that his coat should consist of crisp, tight curls, 

 almost like Astrakhan fur, everywhere except on his face, 



