UPLAND SHOOTING. 
339 
shooting, the great thickness and severity of the covert, and the 
peculiar species of game, it would be more useful. There are 
many varieties of this beautiful, active, and industrious little 
dog, but the best and most adapted for this country is the large 
Cocking Spaniel, or Springer, which is found in the greatest 
perfection in Sussex. 
This dog, which is probably the original stock of the Setter, 
cannot be better described than as resembling a Setter, in the 
same degree as a punchy, powerful, short-legged pony, resem¬ 
bles a well-bred horse. It is very strong and bony for its size, 
and has great industry, indefatigable spirit, and indomitable cou¬ 
rage—nay ! its faults partake of these latter qualities, as it is 
wont to be rash, impetuous, and headstrong. One of the great¬ 
est drawbacks to its excellence in England, would not exist in 
this country; I mean its propensity to chase Hares, which 
abound in many preserves there to such a degree, that they are 
bouncing up at every step, and the Spaniels are yelping and 
yaffing after them all the time. Here the Hare is comparatively 
a rare animal, and in this respect the temptation of the Spaniel 
to wildness, would be very greatly diminished in the United 
States, or in Canada. 
The head of the Spaniel, and especially the nose, is propor- 
tionably much shorter than that of the Setter, the frontal sinuses 
more fully developed, the eye larger and more prominent, the 
ears much longer and more curly, some so long that they lite¬ 
rally seem as if they were intended “ to sweep away the morn¬ 
ing dew.” 
Their coats are altogether longer, and more curly, the tails not 
merely feathered, but bushy, and the legs thickly fringed, even to 
the toes. 
These dogs are of all colors, but I prefer the Blenheim color, 
rich orange and white, with a full moist eye, and coal-black nose 
and palate. 
They require great steadiness, and constant attention, both in 
the breaking, and the hunting when broken ; but firmness, cou¬ 
pled with general mildness, and constancy of temper, with occa- 
