THE WATER- SPANIEL. 169 



(a) the ieish water-spaniel. 



This breed attracted great notice in England about fifteen 

 years ago, and several splendid litters were, reared by Mr. 

 Skidmore, Mr. Lindoe, Captain O'Grady, Mr. Willett, Mr. Eobson, 

 and others ; but of late, either from delicacy of constitution or 

 some other cause, great difficulty has been experienced in rearing 

 puppies, so that it is seldom that a specimen is' exhibited at all 

 coming up to the 1865-70 standard. Nor do. the Irish them- 

 selves seem to have had better luck ; indeed, from all accounts, the 

 fall in g off in the Emerald Isle has been even greater than in 

 England. Those who have possessed a dog of this breed speak 

 very highly of them, so that it does not seem that the decay 

 is to be attributed to carelessness or neglect. 



According to trustworthy evidence,' Mr. M'Carthy alone seems 

 to have the credit of originating this strain, which is very remark- 

 able, as there is no breed of dogs in existence closely resembling 

 it ; and how he created it I am quite at a loss to know. The bare 

 face and tail, the marked top-knot, the long curls all round the legs, 

 and the heavily curled coat on the body and ears, are all peculi- 

 arities which must have, been derived from some source, but, alas ! 

 I confess my ignorance as to its habitat. The only objection 

 I know of is, that the breed is very quarrelsome ; but still this 

 cannot be carried to the extent of extermination, which is what 

 seems to threaten it. Mr. Lindoe and others who have possessed 

 good specimens tell me that a more useful spaniel does not 

 exist, either for land or water, and that he possesses a good nose, 

 retrieves well, with a tender mouth, if not spoiled by bad manage- 

 ment. Added to these good qualities is an untiring disposition 

 to hunt, while as a companionable dog he is A- 1 . 

 Points of the southern Irish water-spaniel : — 



