DOGS 477 
the oldest breed we have that has been kept to the 
hunting of fur and feather, as a help to hawking, net- 
ting and the gun, but he is still the most generally 
useful of our game dogs, as he is the most universal 
favorite. In field or covert, no dog works so close 
as a well bred and well broken spaniel; neither fur 
nor feather can escape him; no hedgerow is too thick, 
no brake too dense for him to penetrate and force 
out to view of the sportsman the reluctant game; he 
is a most active, ardent and merry worker. His ‘wan- 
ton tail,’ ever in motion while he quests, increases in 
rapidity of action with that tremulous whimper that 
tells so truly that he is near his game, and says to his 
master, in terms that never deceive, ‘Be ready—it is 
here.’ ” 
Referring to the ancient history of the spaniel, the 
same author remarks: “Spaniels were, in olden times, 
also known by the name of the game they were kept 
to, as ‘a dog for the partridge,’ ‘a dog for the duck,’ 
‘a dog for the pheasant,’ as in our own day we still 
have the cocker, or dog for the woodcock; but at what 
date the term ‘springer,’ or ‘springing spaniel,’ was 
introduced, I do not know, but presume it must have 
been when the qualities of the setter, or ‘setting span- 
iel,’ became fully developed and permanently fixed by 
breeding setters from known setting spaniels only, and 
keeping the breed of questing spaniels distinct; the 
term ‘springer’ was probably given to them on account 
of their natural disposition to rush in and flush or 
spring the game.” 
