These dogs have achieved great prominence since the establishment of dog shows, the principal breeders and exhibitors of them having been the late Mr. Burdett, of Birmingham; the late Mr. Jones, of Oscott, near Birmingham; Mr. Phineas Bullock, of Bilston, Staffordshire; and Dr. Boulton, of Beverley, in Yorkshire; and the strains of these several gentlemen's kennels are now in the hands of a considerable number of exhibitors and others throughout the country. The general appearance is that of a long, low set dog, legginess being looked on as a great fault; the general contour, enhanced by the bright glossy jet black coat, is very pleasing. To take the points seriatim:

MR. J. HOLMES'S BLACK SPANIEL "FLIRT." Sire Nick (K.C.S.B. 2152) - Dam Chloe (K.C.S.B. 2187).

The head is long, both in skull and muzzle; the latter must not be pointed, but rather deep than square, the skull standing up well above the ears, the forehead fairly shown, and the occiput well developed.

The ears are set on low - as above inferred - lobe-shaped, long, and well feathered, with straight and silky hair.

The eye is dark in colour, pretty full, but not prominent or watery, as in the toy varieties.

The neck is long, pretty muscular when examined; covered thickly with longish hair.

The whole barrel is rather long, with a tendency to too much space between back ribs and hind quarters, which is a fault. The chest should be deep, ribs moderately sprung, the back ones well let down, the back well clothed with muscle.

The shoulders should be moderately sloped and well clothed with muscle; fore legs straight, hind legs strong in stifle and moderately bent; they must be strong of bone. The feet should be moderately round, and the sole thick and hard; but the show specimens have so much feathering that it gives them the appearance of having a long flat foot. The knuckles are not much sprung, and the whole foot should be a good size.

The tail, which is invariably docked, should be well feathered, and not carried higher than on a level with the back.

The coat should be a jet glossy black, free from rustiness and from white, although a few white hairs on the chest are no detriment; in texture the coat is soft and silky, of good length, and free from curl, longest on the breast, tail, ears, and legs, which are all well feathered.

The subject of our engraving is Flirt, the property of Mr. James Holmes, of Wellington, Salop, and was bred by Mr. P. Bullock. Flirt is a pure black, under 221b. weight, and a winner at the Crystal Palace, Manchester, Hull, Nottingham, and many other shows. She is by the Hon. W. Arbuthnott's Nick (K.C.S.B., 2152) out of Chloe (K.C.S.B., 2187); Nick was bred by Mr. Bullock, but no pedigree of him is given; Chloe was by Bob out of Nellie (these two being brother and sister), by Young Bebb out of Flirt, by Jones's Bob out of his Nellie, by his Bob out of his Chloe; Bob by Burdett's Bob out of Jones's Floe; Bebb by Old Bebb, from Lord Derby's kennels, out of Nancy, by Lloyd's Charley out of Baggot's Lady.

The following measurements have been furnished by the respective owners:

Mr. A. H. Easten's black spaniel Brush: Age, 2½ years; weight, 401b.; height at shoulder, 15in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 38in.; length of tail, 5in.; girth of chest, 26in.; girth of loin, 24¼in.; girth of head, 16in.; girth of forearm, 7in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 9iin.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 9in.

Mr. A. H. Easten's black spaniel Bona: Age, 2½ years; weight 321b.; height at shoulder, 15in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 35in.; length of tail, 4in.; girth of chest, 24½in.; girth of loin, 22in.; girth of head, 14½in.; girth of forearm, 6½in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 8in.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 7½in.

Mr. J. W. Dennison's black spaniel Beverlac: Age, 3¾ years; weight, 541b.; height at shoulder, 15iin.; length from nose to set on of tail, 41in.; length of tail, 6in.; girth of chest, 27in.; girth of loin, 25in.; girth of head, 18in.; girth of forearm, 8in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 9½in.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 9½in.

Mr. William Avery's field spaniel Black Douglas: Age, 17 months; weight, 441b.; height at shoulder, 1ft. 3½in.; length from nose to set on of tail, 3ft. 2in.; length of tail, 5¾in.; girth of chest, 2ft. l½in.; girth of loin, 1ft. 9iin.; girth of head, 1ft. 5in.; girth of forearm, 6½in.; length of head from occiput to tip of nose, 10in.; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, 9½in.