THE SPORTING SPANIEL 163 



variety breeders have all a ground colour of white, and are 

 black and white, blue roan, liver and white, red roan, liver 

 white and tan, and tricolours or quadri-colours i.e., blue or 

 red roan and tan, or both combined, with tan. The Spaniel 

 Club furnishes the following description of the Black Field 

 Spaniel : 



Head Should be quite characteristic of this grand sporting dog* 

 as that of the Bloodhound or the Bulldog ; its very stamp and coun- 

 tenance should at once convey the conviction of high breeding, character 

 and nobility ; skull well developed, with a distinctly elevated occipital 

 tuberosity, which, above all, gives the character alluded to ; not too 

 wide across muzzle, long and lean, never snipy nor squarely cut, and in 

 profile curving gradually from nose to throat ; lean beneath eyes, a 

 thickness here gives coarseness to the whole head. The great length 

 of muzzle gives surface for the free development of the olfactory nerve, 

 and thus secures the highest possible scenting powers. Eyes Not too 

 full, but not small, receding or overhung ; colour dark hazel or dark 

 brown, or nearly black ; grave in expression, and bespeaking unusual 

 docility and instinct. Ears Set low down as possible, which greatly 

 adds to the refinement and beauty of the head, moderately long and 

 wide, and sufficiently clad with nice Setter-like feather. Neck Very 

 strong and muscular, so as to enable the dog to retrieve his game without 

 undue fatigue ; not too short, however. Body (including size and 

 symmetry) Long and very low, well ribbed up to a good strong loin, 

 straight or slightly arched, never slack ; weight from about 35 Ibs. 

 to 45 Ibs. Nose Well developed, with good open nostrils, and 

 always black. Shoulders and Chest Former sloping and free, latter 

 deep and well developed, but not too round and wide. Back and Loin 

 Very strong and muscular ; level and long in proportion to the height 

 of the dog. Hind-quarters Very powerful and muscular, wide, and 

 fully developed. Stern Well set on, and carried low, if possible below 

 the level of the back, in a perfectly straight line, or with a slight down- 

 ward inclination, never elevated above the back, and in action always 

 kept low, nicely fringed, with wavy feather of silky texture. Feet 

 and Legs Feet not too small, and well protected between the toes with 

 soft feather ; good strong pads. Legs straight and immensely boned, 

 strong and short, and nicely feathered with straight or waved Setter-like 

 feather, overmuch feathering below the hocks objectionable. Coat 

 Flat or slightly waved, and never curled. Sufficiently dense to resist 

 the weather, and not too short. Silky in texture, glossy, and refined in 

 nature, with neither duffelness on the one hand nor curl or wiriness on 

 the other. On chest under belly, and behind the legs, there should be 

 abundant feather, but never too much, and that of the right sort, viz., 

 Setter-like. The tail and hind-quarters should be similarly adorned. 

 Colour Jet black throughout, glossy and true. A little white on chest* 

 though a drawback, not a disqualification. General Appearance 

 That of a sporting dog, capable of learning and doing anything possible 

 for his inches and conformation. A grand combination of beauty and 

 utility. 



