Until the year 1872, Sussex spaniels were never distinguished as a separate class at any of our shows, being admitted only as " other than Clumber," or as "large spaniels." In that year, however, the Committee of the Crystal Palace Show instituted a special prize for the Sussex breed, and their example was followed in October at Nottingham, where the puce-coloured Rufus, bred by Mr. Beesly, defeated Mr. P. Bullock's George, so named from his resemblance to the dog selected by me in 1866 as the type of the breed. Mr. Soames' George has never yet been surpassed, as far as my opinion and observation go, and I shall therefore retain his portrait as efficiently representing the true type of the Sussex spaniel.

Before the above-mentioned constitution of a distinct class under the name "Sussex," it was of course impossible to criticise the various liver-coloured spaniels exhibited, excepting generally; but almost as soon as the opportunity was thus given it was taken advantage of, and in 1874-5 a host of letters appeared in the Field on this subject, under the signatures of C. B. Hodgson, J. Blade, " Castra," "Ruthwell," J. Farrow, J. H. Salter, W. W. Boulton, "Sussex," Phineas Bullock, J. Hughes, and B. Marchant, with a view to show not only that a dog must himself possess a proper liver colour to constitute him a Sussex spaniel, but he must also be descended from parents of that hue. In illustration of this argument, it was proved under protest at Birmingham in 1874, that Mr. Phineas Bullock's George, though himself exhibiting the proper colour and shape of the Sussex breed, was by his celebrated Bob, who was of a rich black colour. The result was that George was from that time withdrawn from the Sussex classes at the chief shows, and it has been since held that the objection was valid.

It may be remembered that a portrait of this dog was published in the Field in 1872 as a Sussex spaniel, which he closely resembled in appearance; and, though his pedigree was given in the catalogue of the Crystal Palace show, it did not strike me that his sire (the well-known Bob) was black, as was afterwards brought out.

From the year 1872 special classes have been given to the Sussex spaniel at most of our large shows, and in nearly every case a dog with a golden liver coat, or a reasonable approximation to this, has been selected for premier honours; but still I have reason to believe that a good many of the prize winners have been crossed with extraneous strains, and that there are very few really pure specimens of the genuine Sussex spaniel in existence. In 1859, when I published in " The Dog in Health and Disease" the portraits of Mr. Soames's George and Romp, from the Rosehill kennels, it was so rare that many good sportsmen had never heard of its existence and for several years I looked in vain through the various shows for another good specimen of it. At the early Birmingham shows Mr. F. Burdett's blacks were in fashion; and on his death Mr. Jones, of Oscott, took possession of the show bench with his Bob, a son of Burdett's dog of the same name. Soon after this Mr. Phineas Bullock came to the fore with dogs descended from the same strains, and without any infusion, as far as I know, of the real Sussex spaniel - at all events, not for some years.

After a time, Mr Bowers, of Chester, obtained a dog (Buckingham) and two or three bitches of the Rosehill strain; and Mr. J. H. Salter, of Tolleshunt D'Arcy, in Essex, also purchased Chance and Chloe, of pure old Sussex blood. Dr Williams, of Hayward's Heath, Sussex, possesses a bitch from which I believe he has bred some good puppies. Mr. Marchant of Dartford, and Rev. W. Shield of Kirkby Lonsdale, Mr H. B. Spurgin of Northampton, and Mr. A. W. Langdale of Bishop's Stortford, also have the breed; but beyond this short list I am unable to go, though no doubt there are others with which I am unacquainted.

In work the Sussex spaniel is somewhat faster, and certainly more lasting and persevering, than the Clumber, from whom he also differs in possessing a peculiarly full and bell-like tongue, though still somewhat sharp, in note. He is by no means noisy, except when first entered to his game, and it is easy to distinguish by his tongue whether he is on "fur" or "feather." He is readily taught to retrieve with a soft mouth, but there is sometimes a slight tendency to sulk, and he certainly is not so easily kept under command as the Clumber; but for hard work he beats that dog altogether, and is rarely gun-shy. As compared with the indefinite strains of liver-coloured spaniels of such symmetry as to be exhibited at our shows, but descended from Mr. Burdett's Bob and other black dogs, I have no reason to think that the real Sussex is in any way superior to them, either in the field or on the show bench, if judged without regard to purity of blood; and if a class were made for "liver-coloured spaniels" without designating them as "Sussex," I can see no reason to believe that the first prize would of necessity go to either of the gentlemen above named.

Classes for "Gordon" setters are now abandoned, on account of the difficulty in defining that dog; and I am by no means sure that it is not desirable to follow this example in reference to the Sussex spaniel, as was to some extent done at the last Brighton show, when a class was formed for " golden * liver coloured Sussex spaniels." But even then, a dog of the true " golden" colour, if proved to be descended from a black strain, would be open to disqualification, Clearly, however, the colour alone is no mark of purity, as was proved in the case of Mr. Phineas Bullock's George above mentioned; and, indeed, I know no breed of dogs in which colour alone can be relied on. The standard points of the Sussex spaniel may be estimated as follows:

Points In The Sussex Spaniel

Grand Total 100.

1. The Skull (Value 15)

1. The skull (value 15) should be long, and also wide, with a deep indentation in the middle, and a full stop, projecting well over the eyes; occiput full, but not pointed; the whole giving an appearance of heaviness without dulness.

2. The Eyes (Value 5)

2. The eyes (value 5) are full, soft, and languishing, but not watering so as to stain the coat.

3. The Nose (Value 10) Should Be Long (3in. To 3 1/2in.)

3. The nose (value 10) should be long (3in. to 3 1/2in.) and broad, the end liver, coloured, with large open nostrils.

4. The Ears (Value 5)

4. The ears (value 5) are moderately long and lobe-shaped - that is to say, narrow at the junction with the head, wider in the middle, and rounded below, not pointed. They should be well clothed with soft wavy and silky hair, but not heavily loaded with it.

5. The Neck (Value 5)

5. The neck (value 5) is rather short, strong, and slightly arched, but not carrying the head much above the level of the back. There is no throatiness in the skin, but a well-marked frill in the coat.

MR. Prick's Clumber Spaniel " Bruce".

6. Shoulders And Chest (Value 10)

The chest is round, especially behind the shoulders, and moderately deep, giving a good girth. It narrows at the shoulders, which are consequently oblique, though strong, with full points, long arms, and elbows well let down, and these last should not be turned out or in.

7. Back And Bach Ribs (Value 10)

The back or loin is long, and should be very muscular both in width and depth. For this latter development the back ribs must be very deep. The whole body is characterised as low, long, and strong.

8. Legs And Feet (Value 10)

Owing to the width of chest, the fore legs of the Sussex spaniel are often bowed; but it is a defect notwithstanding, though not a serious one. The arms and thighs must be bony as well as muscular; knees and hocks large, wide, and strong; pasterns very short and bony; feet round, and toes well arched and clothed thickly with hair. The fore legs should be well feathered all down, and the hind ones also above the hocks, but should not have much hair below that point.

9. The Tail (Value 10)

9. The tail (value 10) is generally cropped, and should be thickly clothed with hair, but not with long feather. The true spaniel's low carriage of the tail at work is well marked in this breed.

10. The Colour (Value 10)

10. The colour (value 10) of the Sussex is a well-marked but not exactly rich golden liver, on which there is often a washed-out look that detracts from its richness. This colour is often met with in other breeds, however, and is no certain sign of purity in the Sussex spaniel

11. The Coat (Value 5)

11. The coat (value 5) is wavy without any curl, abundant, silky, and soft.

12. The Symmetry (Value 5)

12. The symmetry (value 5) of the Sussex spaniel is not very marked; but he should not be devoid of this quality.

It being generally admitted that no improvement has taken place on Mr. Soames' George, whose portrait has already been given in the former editions of this book, it is unnecessary to substitute any other for it.