254 THE DOGS OP THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 



spaniel, which, however, he resembles in form. He is robust in build, and has 

 a peculiarly thick and full covering of hair. His os occipitis is well pronounced, his 

 head is round, his forehead is strongly arched, his muzzle is short, high, and 

 stumpy, his neck short and thick; his body is compact and cobby, his legs are 

 comparatively short and strong, and he is more web-footed than any other breed. 

 The hair over his body is long, thick, soft, woolly, and entirely curled, even over the 

 face, and especially the mouth, where it forms a decided moustache. On the ears 

 and tail the hair is more knotty and matted. Specimens of this breed are white, 

 light liver, liver, light grey, dark grey, dark liver, or black. Sometimes the markings 

 are peculiar, inasmuch that, on a light ground, great irregular dark grey, or black 

 patches occur. When the dogs are liver-coloured or black there are white spots on 

 their muzzles and throats, on the nape of their necks, on their breasts, bellies, feet, 

 and tail. They are seldom cropped, but are almost invariably docked. The Italians 

 call them can barbone ; the French barbets, grands barbets, barbetons caniches ; the 

 English denominate them water dogs, water spaniels, finders, and poodles. Neither 

 the Greeks nor the Romans appear to have known these dogs, and the old German 

 authors of the middle ages do not mention them. In the sixteenth century they are, 

 for the first time, mentioned by Conrad Gesner, who, in 1555, gives a description and 

 illustration of these dogs. The great poodle is most easily trained, and his peculiar 

 adaptation for marsh work is not found in any such high degree in any other kind 

 of dog. 



His liveliness, attachment, and faithfulness, combined with his good temper, 

 trust, and obedience, make of him a thoroughly good companion. He always looks 

 for his master, likes to please him, and is never tired of doing all he can to further 

 that end. He is a splendid swimmer, and the best of water retrievers. He grasps 

 everything he is taught so readily that he is trained very quickly; hence he is a good 

 performer in whatever pursuit his talents may be called into requisition. 



Der mittlere Pudel, or medium-sized poodle, is only a variety of the great 

 poodle. He has the same qualities and properties. Size is the only difference 

 between them ; he is sometimes two-thirds, and sometimes only half, the size of his 

 greater congener. There is no difference in their colour or markings, and the 

 mittlere Pudel is also docked. 



In Italy, France, or England no difference is made between this variety and the 

 great poodle ; they go by the same name. This medium-sized poodle, however, was 

 known to the Romans, although no writing mentions it ; but on certain pictures on 

 antiques, from the time of the Emperor Augustus (last century before Christ), his 

 portrait is found. He was not, however, known to the Germans of the middle ages. 

 In many places he is used for finding truffles. 



Der kleine Pudel, or little poodle. In this mongrel race the peculiarities of 

 their ancestors are so pronounced that they are called " half bastards of pure 

 crossing " (sic) . They look like the medium-sized poodles, but are only half their 

 size, and in make they are much lighter. Their heads are not so high, the muzzle 

 is longer, the body slenderer, and the legs are comparatively thinner. The hair 

 covering the body is long, fine, and soft ; on body and legs more curled and more 



