CLASS 1. MAMMALIA: ORDER 5. CARNIVORA. 
223 
THE WAIBR-SPANIEL. 
The Water-Spaniel. — Of this breed there are two varieties, a larger and smaller, hoth useful 
according to the degree of range or the work required ; the smaller, however, being ordinarily 
preferable. In both, the head is long and the face smooth ; the limbs — more developed than 
those of the springer — should be muscular, the carcass round, and the hair long and closely curled. 
Docility and affection are stamped on the countenance of this animal, and he excels every other 
breed in attachmeiat to his master. In the field his work is double — first to find, when 
ordered so to do, and to back behind the sportsman, when the game will be more advantageously 
trodden up. In both he must be taught to be perfectly obedient to the voice, that he may be 
kept within range, and not unnecessarily disturb the birds. A more important part of his duty, 
however, is to find and bring the game that has dropped. To teach him to find is easy enough, 
for a young water-spaniel will as readily take to the water as a pointer puppy will stop ; but to 
bring his game without tearing it is a more difficult lesson, and the most difficult of all is to make 
him suspend the pursuit of the w^ounded game while the sportsman re-loads. The water-spaniel 
was originally from Spain ; but the pure breed has been lost, and the present dog is probably 
descended ii'om the large water-dog and the English setter. 
The water and land spaniels difl'er materially from each other. The water-spaniel, although 
when at his work being all that his master can desire, is, when unemployed, comparatively a slow 
and inactive dog ; but under this sobriety of demeanor is concealed a strength and fidelity of 
attachment to which the more lively land-spaniel cannot always lay just claim. 
Youatt tells us that he once saved a young water-spaniel from the persecution of a crowd of 
people Avho had driven it into a passage, and were pelting it with stones. " The animal had the 
character of being, contrary to what his species usually are, exceedingly savage ; and he suffered 
himself to be taken up by me and carried from his foes with a kind of suUenness ; but when, 
being out of the reach of danger, he was put down, he gazed on his deliverer, and then crouched 
at his feet. From that moment he attached himself to his new master with an intensity of aff"ec- 
tion scarcely conceivable — never expressed by any boisterous caresses, but by endeavoring to be 
in some manner in contact with him ; resting his head upon his foot ; lying upon some portion of 
his apparel, his eye intently fixed upon him, endeavoring to understand every expression of his 
countenance. He would follow one gentleman, and one only, to the river-side, and behave gal- 
