THE King Charles and Blenheim Spaniels have respectively received their names, the former from the patronage afforded to them by the " Merry Monarch," and the latter from that of the Marlborough family, among whom at Blenheim they have been pets for many generations. In each case, however, the modern prize winner is of a very different type from the original breed.

In considering the several points of the dogs hitherto described, I have been guided to a considerable extent by the uses to which they are usually put; but in the toy dog no such line can be drawn, nor is it possible to compare the modern Blenheim or King Charles and their original breeds with any pretension to arrive at their respective values, except by an appeal to the fashion of the day, which at present settles the question in. favour of modern "show form." According to Vandyke the pets of Kong Charles II. were liver and white in colour, and of a shape varying greatly from that of Mr. Forder's Young Jumbo, who represents the modern type extremely well. According to the authority of the great painter, who is no doubt thoroughly dependable, their noses were comparatively long and sharp, and their ears no larger than those of the Chinese dog now commonly imported into England, which are more like those of a fox terrier than of a modern prize King Charles or Blenheim spaniel. Until the early part of the present century these little spaniels, not exceeding 51b. or 61b. in weight, were the fashionable pet dogs; but about fifty years ago the taste of the day changed in favour either of the Oxfordshire Blenheim - a little red and white dog resembling the Cocker Spaniel in miniature - or of the then existing King Charles, which was usually of a black tan and white colour, and might be regarded as the Gordon setter reduced in scale, being like that dog not only in colour, which was, as in that breed, black and tan with or without white, but also in shape of body and head; and in this form both breeds have been placed on canvas by Sir Edwin Landseer. But soon after this date the London "fancy" seem to have become discontented with the beautiful natural shapes of their pets, and set to work to import the short faces and upturned noses of the Chinese spaniel, while at the same time they selected puppies with still greater length of feather on ears, feet, and legs than before.

It is said that the bulldog, pug, and Chinese spaniel crosses have been used for this purpose; but this is not admitted by the breeders, who declare that the alterations have been effected by selection alone. The modus operandi is, however, of little consequence; all that we have to do with is the result, which is embodied in the following description of the points of the modern pet spaniel. The strongest argument in support of the adoption of some cross such as those mentioned above, is, that nearly all of the modern breed have lost the low carriage of the tail, which is a peculiar feature in all true spaniels, and which was formerly insisted on as a point of great importance in the toy spaniel, but is now abandoned by modern judges, simply because it is rarely met with among those specimens that come up to their standard in other respects. In order to show the difference between the two types, I have obtained a sketch of Mr. Julius's Blenheim "Spot," which is, I believe, descended from the Woodstock strain, and exhibits the old-fashioned shape of head and face in perfection.

Contrasting him with Mrs. J. W. Berrie's prize winner, "The Earl," my readers can judge for themselves whether the latter could have descended from ancestors like the former, without any cross with extraneous blood. Knowing full well what extraordinary things can be done in this way by judicious selection, I am still sceptical on this point, and must regard the " stop," upturned nose, short face, and round skull as fresh importations, not developments. Still I must beg Mrs. Berrie, Mr. Forder, and other successful modern breeders to understand that I do not deny the merits of their pets, since I believe that in all fancy dogs Fashion has an undisputed right to be heard; and, as this omnipotent authority chooses to decide that an artificially short, upturned nose is more beautiful than that form of the organ which nature originally gave to the English spaniel, I am quite ready to accept the fiat. The following is the Tot Spaniels - Mr. J. W. Berbie's Modern Blenheim "The Earl," Mr. Julius's Old Blenheim " Spot," Mb. Forder's King Charles " Young Jumbo".

Scale Of Points Generally Accepted

Grand Total 100.

1. The Head (Value 10)

1. The head (value 10) should be well domed, and in good specimens is absolutely semi-globular, sometimes even extending beyond the half-circle, and absolutely projecting over the eyes, so as nearly to meet the upturned nose. This globular shape of skull is well shown by Mr. Baker in Young Jumbo.

2. The "Stop" (Value 10)

2. The "stop" (value 10), or hollow between the eyes, is as well marked as in the bulldog, or even more so; some good specimens exhibiting a hollow deep enough to bury a small marble.

8. The Nose (Value 10)

8. The nose (value 10) must be short, and well turned up between the eyes, without any indication of artificial displacement afforded by a deviation to either side. The colour of the end should be black; and it should be both deep and wide, with large open nostrils.

4. The Lower Jaw (Value 5)

4. The lower jaw (value 5) must be wide between its branches, leaving plenty of space for the tongue and for the attachment of the lower lips, which should completely conceal the teeth. It should also be turned up or "finished," so as to allow of its meeting the end of the upper-jaw, turned up in a similar way as above described.

5. The Ears (Value 10)

5. The ears (value 10) must be long, so as to approach the ground. In an average sized dog they measure 20in. from tip to tip, and some reach to 22in., or even a trifle more. They should be set low on the head, and be heavily feathered. In this respect the King Charles is expected to exceed the Blenheim, and his ears occasionally extended to 24in.

6. The Eyes (Value 5)

6. The eyes (value 5) are set wide apart, with the eyelids square to the line of face, not oblique or fox-like. The eyes themselves are large, lustrous, and very dark in colour, so as to be generally considered black, their enormous pupils, which are absolutely of that colour, increasing the deception. From their large size, there is almost always a certain amount of weeping shown at the inner angles.

7. In Compactness Of Shape (Value 10)

7. In compactness of shape (value 10) these spaniels almost rival the pug, but the length of coat adds greatly to the apparent bulk, as the body, when the coat is wetted, looks small in comparison with that dog. Still, it ought to be decidedly "cobby," with strong stout legs, broad back, and wide chest.

8. The Symmetry (Value 5)

8. The symmetry (value 5) of the toy spaniel is of some importance, but it is seldom that there is any defect in this respect.

9. The Colour (Value 10)

9. The colour (value 10) varies with the breed. In the King Charles a rich black and tan is demanded without white, the black tan and white variety being discarded, though, in the best bred litters, occasionally a puppy of this colour appears. Tan spots over the eyes and on the cheeks, as well as the usual marking on the legs, are also required. The Blenheim, on the other hand, must on no account be whole-coloured, but should have a ground of pure pearly white, with bright rich chesnut red markings, evenly distributed in large patches. The ears and cheeks should be red, and there should be a blaze of white extending from the nose up the forehead, and ending between the ears in a crescentic curve. In the centre of this blaze there should be a clear "spot" of red, of the size of a sixpence.

10. The Coat (Value 10)

10. The coat (value 10) in both varieties should be long, silky, soft, and wavy, but not curly. In the Blenheim there should be a profuse mane, extending well down in front of the chest.

11. The Feather (Value 10)

11. The feather (value 10) should be well displayed on the ears and feet, where it is so long as to give the appearance of their being webbed. It is also carried well up the backs of the legs. In the King Charles the feather on the ears is very long and profuse, exceeding that of the Blenheim by an inch or more. The feather on the tail, which is cut to a length of about three and a half or four inches, should be silky, and from five to six inches in length, constituting a marked " flag " of a square shape.

12. In Size (Value 5)

12. In size (value 5) both breeds vary from 51b. to 101b. in weight; the smaller the better, if otherwise well proportioned.

The chief breeders of these beautiful little dogs are the following ladies and gentlemen:

Blenheims

Mr. J. Barnett, late of Congleton; Mrs. J. W. Berrie, Wood Green, N.; Mrs. Popham, Alresford, Hants; Mr. E. Short, Spitalfields; Mr. J. Garwood, Gray's-inn-road; Mr. V. A. Julius, Abergavenny; Mr. S. A. Julius, Hastings.

King Charles

Miss E. Dawson, Denmark Hill; Mr. Thorling, Clerkenwell, Mr. J. Garwood, Gray's-inn-road; Mr. Forder, Bow; Mr. Hibbord, Spitalfields.

The specimens I have selected for illustration are - first, Mrs. J. W. Berrie's "The Earl," a very beautiful little dbg, and perfect at all points, which took the first prize at the show recently held at the Aquarium in London, in a good class; secondly, Mr. Julius's "Spot," an excellent specimen of the old-fashioned Woodstock strain; and thirdly, Mr. Forder's "Young Jumbo," very successful at the Kennel Club shows, and, as Mr. Baker's portrait will testify, a very splendid specimen of his breed.