THE JAPANESE 293 



however, that the breed may claim to be Chinese just as surely 

 as Japanese. The Hon. Mrs. McLaren Morrison, an authority 

 on exotic dogs whose opinion must always be taken with 

 respect, is inclined to the belief that they are related to the 

 short-nosed Spaniels of Thibet ; while other experts are 

 equally of opinion that the variety is an offshoot from the 

 Spaniels of Pekin. It is fairly certain that they are indigenous 

 to the Far East, whence we have derived so many of our small 

 snub-nosed, large-eyed, and long-haired pets. The Oriental 

 peoples have always bred their lap dogs to small size, con- 

 venient for carrying in the sleeve. The "sleeve dog " and 

 the " chin dog " are common and appropriate appellations in 

 the East. 



The Japanese Spaniel was certainly known in England half a 

 century ago, and probably much earlier. Our seamen often 

 brought them home as presents for their sweethearts. These 

 early imported specimens were generally of the larger kind, 

 and if they were bred from which is doubtful it was by 

 crossing with the already long-established King Charles or 

 Blenheim Spaniels. Their colours were not invariably white 

 and black. Many were white and red, or white with lemon- 

 yellow patches. The colouring other than white was usually 

 about the long-fringed ears and the crown of the head, with a 

 line of white running from the point of the snub black nose 

 between the eyes as far as the occiput. This blaze up the face 

 was commonly said to resemble the body of a butterfly, 

 whose closed wings were represented by the dog's expansive 

 ears. 



The white and black colouring is now the most frequent. 

 The points desired are a broad and rounded skull, large in 

 proportion to the dog's body ; a wide, strong muzzle and a 

 turned-up lower jaw. Great length of body is not good ; 

 the back should be short and level. The legs are by pre- 

 ference slender and much feathered, the feet large and well 

 separated. An important point is the coat. It should be 

 abundant, particularly about the neck, where it forms a ruffle, 



