NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 99 



ed all over the body, in close, crisp curls ; the tail not fringed, 

 but covered with close curls to the point. The smallest 

 speck of white may be regarded as indicative of foul 

 breeding. 



There is also a Mack Water-spaniel. I jaw several in 

 Edinburgh, but I do not find them common anywhere else. 

 Some (and Mr. Youatt amongst others) describe two varieties 

 of Water-spaniel a large and a small ; but the fact is, that 

 we might describe two dozen varieties the variations depend- 

 ing on size and color only, the results of whims or fancies on 

 the part of breeders, who, resorting to crosses, have produced 

 so many aberrations from the pure and original breed, which 

 is that I have just described. 



The Water-spaniel, however, is much improved in beauty 

 by intermixture with the /and variety. A female of this kind 

 named " Duck," which we have figured, is in possession of 

 Mr. Macneil, the well-known and justly-esteemed musical 

 instrument maker, Capel-street, (Dublin,) and is one of the 

 most beautiful and affectionate creatures I have ever seen. 

 Macneil reflects credit on "Irish manufacture;" but I pre- 

 sume that he and his establishment are too well known to re- 

 quire further eulogy. Many prefer a medium, or even small- 

 sized Water-spaniel, and I confess that I am of this number, as J 

 conceive them better suited to work, and more active as re- 

 trievers. Some, on the other hand, conceive that small size 

 is incompatible with strength ; these accordingly take pains 

 to breed large dogs, and some have even resorted to a cross 

 with the Newfoundland to effect this object ; a cross is, how- 

 ever, unnecessary all that is requisite being care in the se- 

 lection of such whelps as are to be reared, and judicious pair^ 

 ing. In proof of this assertion, I may mention the dogs of 

 Justin Macarthy, Esq., of Dublin, of the highest possible 

 blood, and at the same time little inferior to mastiffs in size and 

 strength. The Water-spaniel is, I think, the most docile and 

 affectionate of the canine race, and the best dog that such as 

 require him as a companion could possibly keep. He can be 

 trained to do any thing but speak an accomplishment itself, 

 indeed, that was, to a limited extent, possessed some years ago 

 by a spaniel in Germany, (Leibnitz, Opera, 1768.) 



The Water-spa.niel is of considerable antiquity, having 

 been known to the Romans, as we find him figured on many 

 of their monuments. Colonel H. Smith regards it as identi- 

 cal with the " Canis Tuscus," praised by Nemesian. 



Some years ag3 this dog was in great repute iff Dublin 



