This good old English name has been recently revived by the Kennel Club to designate the old-fashioned, medium-legged Spaniels of all colours that are neither Clumber nor Sussex Spaniels, and to distinguish between them and the short-legged variety, which is for the future to be classed under the (appropriately modern) title of Field Spaniel. The title in full description of the subject of this section would be: English Springer, except Clumber Sussex and Field.

"Stonehenge," in his "Manual of British Rural Sports" (1858), calls all large Springers that are not Clumber or Sussex, Norfolk Spaniels; but this appellation, after serious consideration, the Kennel Club has finally rejected, because of the prevalent belief, deeply rooted though fallacious, that the Norfolk Spaniel was always liver-and-white in colour. The epithet of Norfolk was derived from a Duke of that cognomen, who established an improved breed of sporting Spaniel, and has nothing to do with the county - in fact, it was probably at first interchangeable with Sussex, the native home of the Duke in question.

We find in Harewood's "Dictionary of Sport" (1835), on page 318, the following clear definitions: - "The true English Springer differs but little in figure from the Setter, except in size, being nearly two-fifths less in height and strength than the Setter; delicately formed, ears long, soft, and pliable, coat waving and silky, the tail somewhat bushy and pendulous, and always in motion when actively employed. The Cocker, though of the same race, is smaller than the Springer. It has also a shorter and more compact form, a rounder head, shorter nose, ears long, the limbs strong and short, the coat more inclined to curl than the Springer's, and longer, particularly in the tail, which is generally truncated." And again, on page 314: - "The Spaniel (Canis extrarius)" says the author of "British Field Sports," "is a dog of high antiquity, and has ever been applied to his present purposes, namely, those of finding and bringing game when killed to his master, whether by land or water." Taplin, in the "Sportsman's Cabinet" (1803), insists, also, upon the similarity in type of the Setter (or Setting-Spaniel) and the Springer (or Springing-Spaniel), so that Mr. Harewood's ideas in 1835, were by no means newfangled.

These Spaniels were originally brought over from France some hundreds of years ago, for Caius in 1576 treats of them at some length and with evident knowledge, although Edmund de Langley (1341-1402) and Juliana Berners (1486) apparently borrowed from foreign sources their allusions to a dog known to them by repute alone.

In the British Museum there is a collection of sporting engravings, dated 1551, after Jean de Tournes. One of these represents a French Spaniel, or Barbet, retrieving a duck, and the dog is much of the same type as Shirley in the illustration at Fig. 67. But, after all, the main interest about the English Springer lies in his being to-day the most generally useful gundog in Britain. Unique in his adaptability, in his sunny disposition, and in his everlasting energy, no sort of work can spoil him, if he be treated with ordinary care. He is a sturdy dog of perfect symmetry, capable of overtaking a running cock pheasant and retrieving it at the gallop. His size varies much. The writer has seen good ones as small as 3olb. and as big as 6olb.; but through them all the same characteristics have run - power without lumber, gentleness without fear.

Years ago some feeble folk, certainly not practical sportsmen, became alarmed at the swiftness latent in the Springer: because "he could an' he would" travel much faster than human beings, they fancied that he might some day run riot with impunity. These worthies, therefore, devised the egregious plan, only worthy of a Gilbertian opera, of shortening the dog's legs to vanishing point, so that he might not be able to elude them! In their haste to realise their dreams, they had recourse to crosses with Dachshunds and Bassets, which are among the most headstrong of dogs: the result was a Spaniel (?) too slow to do his work, too obstinate to do his master's bidding.

Soon, however, the English Springer proper will be restored again to his high place among the Spaniels, thanks to the action of the Sporting Spaniel Society, and the lessons to be learned at their trials.

To assist in overcoming this dread lest the physical powers of a symmetrical Springer may run away with his mental ballast, a little advice on the choice of a pup, and his education, will not be out of place; and what is sauce for the Springer is sauce also for the rest of the family of Land Spaniels.

First ascertain that the youngsters are bred from working parents; and then proceed to a minute examination of their heads. Choose that one which has a round prominent forehead, a well-developed occiput, and wide nostrils. He must also have a round, soft eye, with a mobile pupil in it; and remember that a good nose and good sense never yet existed in a gundog that had a narrow skull! The pup must, also, keep a merry tail, but till the feather develop upon it, he will probably carry it rather too gaily.

In the education of your puppy, you must ignore that rotten old proverb that counsels plentiful beatings for Spaniel, Wife, and Walnut-tree, and must rely, instead, on firmness, consistency, and the use of the trash-cord, a thin rope trailing behind, which may be long or short as occasion requires. To a Spaniel's character incessant thrashings are fatal, as under such treatment he becomes either cowed or case-hardened, according to his individual temperament - but never broken. You must, however, make constant use of the trash-cord, that potent instrument by which, as Floyd discovered in the beginning of last century, all dogs may be broken; "it will never fail to daunt the most resolute, and may be so gently used as not to overawe the most timid."

Fig. 67. - Mr. R. H. Betts's English Springer Shirley.