THE RETRIEVER.. 235 



instructions of the master ; and an amount of obedience which 

 will be required to prevent his venturing to break out when 

 game is before him. All these are doubtless found in the 

 retriever, but they are coupled with a large heavy frame, requir- 

 ing a considerable amount of food to keep it, and space in the 

 dogcart when he is to be conveyed from place to place. Hence, 

 if a smaller dog can be .found to do the work equally well, he 

 should be preferred ; and as I think he can, I shall describe 

 both. 



The large hlack retriever, if crossed, is known by his resemblance 

 to the small Newfoundland and the Irish water-spaniel or setter, 

 between two of which he is bred, and the forms of which he 

 partakes of in nearly equal proportions, according to the cross. 

 Hence the modern retriever is distinguished as either the curly- 

 coated or wavy-coated, separate classes being made for them at. 

 most of our shows, and sometimes a third depending on colour 

 alone. 



(a) the curly-coated retriever. 



This variety of the retriever is always a cross between the St. 

 John's Newfoundland and a water-spaniel, which is generally 

 Irish. Hence it has become a necessary point that his face 

 shall be bare, and his tail free from feather and sting-like, as in 

 the Irish breed. We cannot trace with certainty the founda- 

 tion of the curly retriever, but from his appearance and the pro- 

 minence of the above points, no doubt can be entertained that his 

 origin is as I have described. A cross with the poodle has been 

 probably attempted, but it is said to spoil the coat, though I 

 should fancy it would improve the utility of the dog as a retriever. 

 At present the wavy-coated variety is in fashion, the' prevailing 



