162 DOGS AND ALL ABOUT THEM

Mr. F. E. Schofield, Dr. J. H. Spurgin, and Mr. J. W. Robinson. In the early days of breeding blacks, when the bitches were mated either with Sussex or liver and white Springers or Norfolk Spaniels, many parti-coloured puppies necessarily occurred, which most breeders destroyed ; but it occurred to some of these gentlemen that a handsome and distinct variety might be obtained by careful selection, and they have certainly succeeded to a very great extent. The most famous names among the early sires are Dr. Spurgin's Alonzo and his son Fop, and Mr. Robinson's Alva Dash, from one or other of whom nearly all the modern celebrities derive their descent.

Those who have been, and are, interested in promoting and breeding these variety Spaniels deserve a large amount of credit for their perseverance, which has been attended with the greatest success so far as producing colour goes. No doubt there is a very great fascination in breeding for colour, and in doing so there is no royal road to success, which can only be attained by the exercise of the greatest skill and the nicest discrimination in the selection of breeding stock. At the same time colour is not everything, and type and working qualities should never be sacrificed to it. This has too often been done in the case of coloured Field Spaniels. There are plenty of beautiful blue roans, red roans, and tricolours, whether blue roan and tan or liver roan and tan, but nearly all of them are either cocktailed, weak in hindquarters, crooked-fronted, or houndy-headed, and showing far too much haw. In fact, in head and front the greater number of the tricolours remind one of the Basset-hound almost as much as they do in colour. It is to be hoped that colourbreeders will endeavour to get back the true Spaniel type before it is too late.

The points of both black and coloured Field Spaniels are identical, bar colour, and here it must be said that black and tan, liver and tan, and liver are not considered true variety colours, though of course they have to compete in those classes, but rather sports from black. The colours aimed at by

THE SPORTING SPANIEL   163

variety breeders have all a ground colour of white, and are black and white, blue roan, liver and white, red roan, liver white and tan, and tricolours or quadri-colours-i.e., blue or red roan and tan, or both combined, with tan. The Spaniel Club furnishes the following description of the Black Field Spaniel:

Head-Should be quite characteristic of this grand sporting dog, as that of the Bloodhound or the Bulldog ; 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 snipy nor squarely cut, and in profile curving gradually from nose to throat ; lean beneath 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 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 lbs. to 45 lbs. Nose-Well developed, with good open nostrils, and always black. 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. Hind-quarters-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 straight or waved Setter-like feather, overmuch feathering below the hocks objectionable. CoatFlat or slightly waved, and never curled. Sufficiently dense to resist the weather, and not too short. Silky in texture, glossy, and refined in nature, with neither duffelness on the one hand nor curl or wiriness on the other. On chest under belly, and behind the legs, there should be abundant feather, but never too much, and that of the right sort, viz., Setter-like. The tail and hind-quarters should be similarly adorned. Colour-Jet black throughout, glossy and true. A little white on chest, though a drawback, not a disqualification. General AppearanceThat of a sporting dog, capable of learning and doing anything possible

for his inches and conformation. A grand combination of beauty and utility.