118 



DOMESTICATED DOGS FOR THE GUN. 



Fig. 21. IRISH WATER SPANIEL, RAKE. 



THE WATER SPANIEL. 



Water Spaniels are commonly said to have web-feet, aixd ibis 

 point is often made a ground of distinction from other dogs, but 

 the fact is that all dogs have their toes united by membranes in 

 the same way, the only distinction between the water and land 

 dogs being that the former have larger feet, and that the membrane 

 between the toes being more lax, they spread more in swimming, 

 and are thus more useful in the water. Most people would un- 

 derstand, from the stress laid on web-feet in the water dogs, that 

 the toes of the land dogs were nearly as much divided as those of 

 man, but there are none so formed, and, as I before remarked, the 

 toes of all are united throughout by a strong membrane. The 

 coat in all the water dogs is woolly and thickly matted, often curly, 

 and in all more or less oily, so as to resist the action of the water. 



