THE COCKER. 



211 



and the energetic manner in which it carries out the wishes of its master. There are two breeds 

 of Field Spaniels, the one termed the " Springer," being used for heavy work among thick and 

 thorny coverts, and the other being principally employed in woodcock shooting, and called in 

 consequence the " Cocker." The Blenheim and King Charles Spaniels derive their origin from 

 the Cocker. Some of these Dogs continually give tongue while engaged in the pursuit of game, 

 and utter different sounds according to the description of game which they have reached ; 

 while others are perfectly mute in their quest. Each of these qualities is useful in its way, and 

 the Dog is valued accordingly ; only it is needful that if the Dog be one that gives tongue, 

 it should not be too noisy in its quest, and should be musical in its note. 



POMERANIAN DOG. — Cams f annularis domesticus ponuranus. 



While hunting, the Spaniel sweeps its feathery tail rapidly from side to side, and is a very 

 pretty object to any one who has an eye for beauty of movement. It is a rule that, however 

 spirited a Spaniel may be, it must not raise its tail above the level of its back. For the pur- 

 pose of sport, a Spaniel must be possessed of a thick coat, as it is subject to continual wetting 

 from the dripping coverts through which it has to force its way. It should be also a tolerably 

 large Dog, not weighing less than fourteen pounds, if possible, and may with advantage weigh 

 some thirty or forty pounds, as do the breed known by the name of the " Clumber" Spaniels. 

 These last-mentioned animals work silently. 



The Cocker is altogether a smaller animal, seldom weighing above twenty pounds, and 

 very often being only ten or twelve pounds in weight. It is an active and lively animal, 

 dashing about its work with an air of gay enjoyment that assists materially in enlivening the 

 spirits of its master. There are many breeds of this Dog, among which the English, Welsh, and 

 Devonshire Cockers may be mentioned as well-known examples. 



It is a courageous little creature, retaining its dashing boldness even when imported into 

 the enervating Indian climate, which destroys the spirit of most Dogs, and even reduces the 

 stubborn bull-dog to a mere poltroon. Captain Williamson, in his book of "Oriental Field 

 Sports," records an instance of rash courage on the part of one of these little Dogs. 



"I was shooting near some underwood, rather thinly scattered among reedy grass, growing 



