THE COCKER 695 



The form of the cocker is shorter and more com- 

 pact than that of the springer : his head is rounder 

 and his muzzle shorter ; his ears are very long, and 

 the limbs short and strong. The entire ears, neck, 

 and body are covered with longer and more curled 

 hair than the springer. He varies also from liver 

 and white, red, red and white, or entirely liver- 

 coloured, with tanned legs and muzzle. 



This beautiful and lively dog seems to have been 

 produced originally by a cross between the small 

 water-spaniel and the springer ; as he not only re- 

 sembles the figure of the latter, but also possesses 

 many of his habits, combined with the lively and 

 active disposition of them both. From the beauty 

 and temper of the cocker, he has been very generally 

 diffused throughout the kingdom, and on these ac- 

 counts he is more frequently a companion of the 

 parlour than used for the sports of the field. 



It is the unalterable nature of the cocker to spring, 

 flush, or start all the game before them, and they 

 pursue without distinction, hare, pheasant, partridge, 

 woodcock, snipe, quail, and plover. It consequently 

 becomes necessary to hunt them within gun-shot of 

 covert, and they never should be allowed, if possible, 

 to go beyond call of the sportsman or his whistle. 

 The following beautiful passage, from Somerville, 

 depicts the cocker in field-sports : — 



" But if the shady woods my cares employ, 

 In quest of feathered game my spaniels beat, 

 Puzzling th' entangled copse ; and from the brake 

 Push forth the whirling pheasant ; higher in air 

 He waves his varied plumes, stretching away 

 With hasty wing. Soon from the upHfted tube 

 The mimic thunder bursts, the leaden death 

 O'ertakes him, and, with many a giddy whirl, 

 To earth he falls, and at my feet expires." 



