difference little less than astonishing. For the field spaniel as developed to-day is nothing if he is not long and low-a new caste, a new type, a new conformation altogether.

Taking the black field spaniel first, I quote some very caustic remarks made by Mr. Rawdon Lee in his book published in 1897, as follows:

seen at our modern shows, can and I think it can, we must

None of

If the black field spaniel, as be taken as a distinct variety, consider him as a comparatively modern introduction. the old writers mention him, nor have artists of a past generation drawn him. It may be safely said that he is bred for show purposes alone. . . . As a fact, such dogs as gain the chief prizes on our show-benches are kept for that purpose alone. A good specimen must have a perfectly flat coat and a shining one; his ears cannot be too long, well clothed with hair and fringed at the tips; his head, too, may be an exaggeration-long, with not the most peculiarly pleasing spaniel expression and eye that one would like to see. Some of our heavier black field spaniels have enormous heads, square and untypical, with eyes displaying a haw that would not be out of place in a bloodhound. . . . Length of body, shortness of leg, and enormous bone are again produced in exaggeration; crooked fore legs have followed; and the black field spaniel-once, perhaps, a useful and active animal-has now fallen into the heavy, slow ranks of the Clumber (but by no means so interesting a creature), and may be taken as a sound example of what can be done in the matter of breeding for "show points."

I supplement this with some remarks from Mr. J. F. Kirk, who was responsible for the article on the breed in the American Book of the Dog:

A stupid prejudice, as it seems to the writer, exists in the minds of many worthy old sportsmen that deterioration is the most evident fact to them in comparing modern spaniels with the wonderful dogs of their day. This is pure nonsense, and arises from a kind of halo of glory with which we are all apt to surround the memories of our young and enthusiastic days. From personal experience, recollection, and good opportunities of comparison, extending over nearly forty years, I feel positive that the handsomest setters which old Laverack used to bring with him to my

native Highland moors would not receive more than a “V.H.C.” card at our modern shows. And so with spaniels. The dogs of thirty or even fifteen years ago cannot be compared with the cracks of the present day. In candidly admitting this fact, however, I am quite free to confess that there is a strong tendency on the part of the modern breeder to exaggerate "fancy points." For instance, spaniel conformation is essentially "long and low." What says Daniel in his Rural Sports a hundred years ago? "A spaniel cannot be too strong; a spaniel cannot be too short on the leg; a spaniel cannot be too high-couraged." But there is a rivalry amongst the breeders to produce "the longest and lowest." Now there is a limit to length and lowness, which is clearly defined as a point where an exaggeration in those respects interferes with the necessary activity and ability to work with sufficient ease and vigour in a rough country. A leggy spaniel is an abomination, but the modern English tendency is to breed them long and low, and too heavy in bone and body. We must come to a clear comprehension as to the line to be drawn between "long legs" and "no legs”; a short-legged dog does not mean of necessity a crawling thing that requires to be helped over every obstacle a foot or two high.

These opinions were expressed six and twelve years ago, and it would be interesting to hear what the writers had to say of the field spaniel of the twentieth century.

A gentleman who is a right good working sportsman writes me as follows of his black field spaniels, which he keeps for sport, and the work they do :—

:

I am satisfied with Mr. Woolland's type. I do not like the very heavy skulled dogs that seem to be getting the fashion; a field spaniel ought not to be a black Clumber. The drawback with the black spaniel, in my opinion, is that he seems more given to eczema than the liver or other varieties. The long, low, and medium-sized spaniels are much easier to break, and will go into thicker cover than the longer legged ones. I have shot over them for twenty years, and won many prizes at all the shows with them. They retrieve well, though not a hare over a five-barred gate; if you want that done I should recommend a retriever. But all other game they retrieve well. I say this from a thoroughly shooting point of view, as few men have handled a gun, not even keepers, for the last twenty years more than myself. I am out

most days on marshy ground after wildfowl and snipe, or through very thick, prickly cover, with several black spaniels, for rabbits. For ordinary hedge-row shooting I have no doubt a heavy Clumber is the dog, but different dogs for different places. My spaniels all take to water, and retrieve well. I spend many nights in winter, when moonlight, after duck, and a steady spaniel that retrieves well is useful then. I have proved to my own satisfaction that a dog bred from a show winner is the best, but he must be brought up to the work from a puppy, and brought up hard. My shooting here is slight in the bag, but plenty of exercise. My ideal black field spaniel for these parts would be as follows:Head, not too thick across skull, very deep muzzle, not too thick across; very low placed ears; nicely cut under the eyes, which must be dark, and with sweet expression; body, long and low; strong loins; stern carried well below back; good shoulders, not dipping, like so many spaniels whose hindquarters are higher than their shoulders; legs perfectly straight, very strong and plenty of feather; weight about 35 lbs.; head well domed. flat skull generally indicates an obstinate brute, and often hard mouthed, in my experience. The very big spaniel, which seems now to be the fashion on the show-bench, is much sooner tired after a hard day's work than the one about 35 lbs. I have found the low legged dogs (if quite straight) quite as active and able to do more work, day after day, than the longer legged ones, and few men work their dogs more than I do.

A

This is a practical tribute to the valuable working qualities of the breed, and for that reason I have quoted it as showing that the dog is appreciated in some quarters on these grounds, and that, despite its short legs, it can be active, and is hardy and enduring. And these dogs, be it noted, are stock bred from showbench winners, in favour of whom my contributor has a special commendation.

The "variety field spaniel," as it is colloquially called, is a dog built on precisely the same lines as the black one, but its coat may be any one of several colours, such as black and tan, liver and tan, liver, black and tan and white roan, liver and tan roan, blue roan, and blue roan and tan. Concerning

which the following are the views of my contribu

tors:

MR. JOHN SMITH.—I am satisfied with the type we see, but there are far more good bitches than dogs on the show-bench at present. As regards the dispute about the long and low field spaniel being unable to do a day's work, I find my prize-winning spaniels, which have been brought up in the country, properly exercised and broken, can do a good day's work fast enough for any one, are intelligent, have good noses, and retrieve tenderly either on land or water. I consider a field or cocker spaniel is the best dog as a companion, being so affectionate and goodtempered, and as an all-round dog with the gun I am sure the field spaniel cannot be beaten.

MISS E. H. WAKEFIELD.-Many specimens lack true spaniel character, having light eyes, showing the haw, throatiness, crooked fore legs, gay tail carriage, and resemble the basset-hound too much in outline and movement. Any specimens having these defects cannot be said to have true spaniel character; certainly those showing the haws cannot have the beautiful, benign, kind expression so characteristic of this breed. Breeders would do well to try and stamp out these failings, which spoil so many otherwise good specimens. Some of our leading judges overlook these faults; if all would handicap them they would soon be things of the past, and much good done to the breed. My ideal of this variety is that he should weigh 45 lbs., with little variation either way; his head dome shaped, long, and fairly lean, nicely chiselled, muzzle clearly cut, not too wide across or snipey; eyes to match colour, grave in expression; ears long and lobe-shaped, set low; neck muscular, not short; shoulders sloping and free; chest well developed, not wide; body long, deep, perfectly straight; ribs well sprung; back and loin strong and muscular; tail carried below the level of the back; legs reasonably short, perfectly straight, with heavy bone; feet close. and cat-like, with sufficient hair beneath to protect the pads; feather, setter-like, not too profuse, especially below the hock. Although naturally of a quiet disposition the dog should be active, capable of doing the work required of him,—in fact, a combination of beauty, utility, and intelligence. As a companion for either sex the spaniel is unequalled, devoted to his owner, a reliable guard, capable of holding his own. I derive much pleasure in my endeavour to improve the breed.

MR. F. W. MORRIS.-We must not allow our dogs to get too iong or too low: there is a medium in all things. For many

years the breeders of the coloured field spaniel have had much trouble in getting their fancy on the same lines as the black field spaniel; the cocker seemed to be the only result of their efforts, but time and work has done all, and now we have coloured field spaniels on the same lines and of the same type as the black, and I think just as good.

STANDARD OF POINTS OF THE BLACK FIELD SPANIEL

(Spaniel Club's)

HEAD. Should be quite characteristic of this grand sporting dog, as is that of the bloodhound or bull-dog; its very stamp and countenance should at once convey the conviction of high breeding, character, and nobility. Skull well developed, with a distinctly elevated occipital tuberosity, which, above all, gives the character alluded to; not too wide across muzzle, long and lean, never snipey nor squarely cut, and, in profile, curving gradually from nose to throat; lean beneath the eyes, a thickness here gives coarseness to the whole head. The great length of muzzle

gives surface for the free development of the olfactory nerve, and thus secures the highest possible scenting powers.

EYES. Not too full, but not small, receding or overhung; colour, dark hazel, or dark brown, or nearly black; grave in expression, and bespeaking unusual docility and instinct.

EARS.-Set low down as possible, which greatly adds to the refinement and beauty of the whole head; moderately long and wide, and sufficiently clad with nice setter-like feather.

NECK.—Very strong and muscular, so as to enable the dog to retrieve his game without undue fatigue; not too short, however.

BODY (including size and symmetry).—Long and very low, well ribbed up to a good strong loin, straight, or slightly arched, never slack; weight from about 35 to 45 lbs.

NOSE.-Well developed, with good open nostrils, and always black in

colour.

SHOULDERS AND CHEST.-Former sloping and free, latter deep and well developed, but not too round and wide.

BACK AND LOIN.-Very strong and muscular, level, and long in proportion to the height of the dog.

HINDQUARTERS.-Very powerful and muscular, wide, and fully

developed.

STERN. Well set on, and carried low, if possible, below the level of the back, in a perfectly straight line, or with a slight downward inclination; never elevated above the back, and in action always kept low; nicely fringed, with wavy feather of silky texture.

FEET AND LEGS.-Feet not too small, and well protected between the toes with soft feather; good strong pads. Legs straight and immensely boned, strong and short, and nicely feathered with flat or waved setterlike feather. Over much feathering below hocks objectionable.

COAT.-Flat or slightly waved, and never curled, sufficiently dense to resist the weather, and not too short, silky in texture, glossy and refined