42& DOGS USED FOR SPORT. 



short time. This oil, although useful to the dog, gives forth an 

 unpleasant odor, and therefore debars him from becoming an in- 

 mate of the house ; so much the better. Some people fancy that 

 the water spaniel possesses web feet, and that his aquatic prowess 

 is di'e to this formation. Such is not the case. All dogs have their 

 toes connected with each other by a strong membrane, and when 

 the foot is wide, and the membrane rather loosely hung, as is the 

 case with the water spaniel, a large surface is presented to the 

 water. This dog is of moderate size, measuring about twenty-two 

 inches in height at the shoulders, middling stout, ears very long, 

 measuring from point to point about the animal's own height. 

 The pure bred ones are acknowledged not excelled in beauty or 

 intelligence- by any breed. I might enumerate many instances 

 Ivhere they have seemed to evince almost the intellect of the human 

 race. 



The points of the Irish Water Spaniel, as given by Stonehenge, 

 are : 



POINTS IN JUDGING AS GIVEN BY STONEHftlGE. 



Value. Value. 



Head r lo Tail lo 



Face and eyes lo Coat lo 



Topknot lo Color lo 



Ears TO Symmetry 5 



Chest and shoulders ']\ — - 



Back and quarters ^\ Total tao 



Legs and feet lo 



FIELD SPANIELS. 

 Cockers derive their cognomen from the fact that they were 

 originally used on woodcocks chiefly, though they are equally 

 good for general work. As distinguished from the Springers (a 

 family of which the Clumber is but a variety, and not the type), 

 they are more active, and will stand harder work, though the 

 Springer claims to be the most tractable, and to have the finer 

 nose. There are many varieties of Cockers, which are indicated 

 chiefly by their colors. Some fanciers demand black as the 

 index of highest worth, though it is by no means universally 

 conceded that such color is abitrarily distinctive. The best 

 breed, known in Scotland as the Devonshire, is by no means 

 uncommon, and is marked liver and white, or black ; the coat 



