nounds as are out at the elbows and such as are weak from the knees to the foot should never be taken into the pack."

THE BEAGLE.

The beagle (the bratch of ancient times) is the smallest of our true hounds. In shape it is not unlike the harrier, but is heavier about the throat, and its body and limbs are stouter. The ordinary beagle measures about fourteen inches in height. The animal known as the rough beagle is supposed to be a cross between the original stock and the rough terrier. This opinion, however, is probably derived from the fact that its bark, which is sharp and shrill, more nearly resembles the voice of the terrier than any other, and that the quality of its hair and its whiskers resembles the terrier's. Some writers regard the rough beagle as a distinct variety. The smallest of the family is the dwarf or rabbit beagle. It is said that at the time of Queen Elizabeth there was a breed of these beagles so small that one might be hidden in a man's glove. Perhaps, however, his hawking-glove was meant; and although this would denote the dog to be marvellously little, a dog that could be squeezed into a modern "kid" would be a much greater novelty, as an Irishman might observe.

THE WATER-SPANIEL.

This animal is of moderate size, measuring about twenty-two inches in height at the shoulders, and proportionately stout in make. Its forehead is lofty, its nose fine, its ears, which when spread measure from tip to tip rather more than the dog's entire height, are deeply fringed. Its coat, which is close, curls over the body in crisp curls. General colour, brown. Its tail is not fringed, but covered with curly hair to the extremity. That the water-spaniel was known to the Romans is proved by the fact that his figure exists on many of their monuments.

No weather, be it ever so cold or boisterous, can daunt this water-loving species of the genus canis. Indeed, it is admirably formed for aquatic exercise. Its feet are very broad (webbed, it has been asserted, but this is an old woman's tale), and its coat is supplied with natural oil in such profusion that it never becomes saturated; as soon as the dog leaves the water, he gives himself a vigorous shake, and is at once dry. This waterproof quality of the water-spaniel, however, debars him the privilege of inhabiting the house, for should he happen

to come near the fire the human organ of smell is speedily and unpleasantly made aware of the fact.

There is another dog of aquatic habits, known as the Great Rough Water-Dog. It is about the height of a setter, but more stoutly built. His coat is long and curled, and its colour usually black and white, or brown and white. "I recollect," says Mr. Richardson, "a singularly large dog of this breed about ten years ago in the possession of Mr. Grierson, of North Hanover-street, Edinburgh, near the foot of the mound, which was possessed of unusual intelligence. Amongst other eccentricities, this dog followed the profession of mendicancy, and regularly solicited the charity of the passer-by. On receiving a halfpenny, his habit was, if hungry, to proceed at once to the shop of Mr. Nelson at the corner of Rose-street, and purchase a biscuit; but it sometimes happened that he put by his halfpence till the calls of appetite returned, and he would go to his repository, take the money to the baker and make his purchase. A servant of Mr. Grierson accidentally came upon this sagacious and provident animal's hoarding-place on one occasion, where were found about fivepence halfpenny in halfpence. The dog chanced to enter at the moment of the discovery, and, with a growl of displeasure, he moved to the spot, and, snatching up his wealth, proceeded at full speed to the shop, and dashed the money on the counter, barking vehemently at the same time, probably deeming it safer at once to turn his money

into bread than risk being robbed by keeping it." 59

COCKER-SPANIEL.

This little spaniel, whose weight averages twelve or fifteen pounds, is a favourite sporting dog. There are several sorts: the " Welsh," the "English," the "Devonshire," and many others. Captain Williamson (author of "Oriental Field Sports") once experienced an instance of the indomitable courage of a tiny cocker of his, called "Paris." The captain was shooting near some underwood, rather thinly scattered among reedy grass, growing on the edge of a large water-course, which took its rise at the foot of the large hill at Mucknee Gunge (India), when suddenly the spaniel in question, one of a brace that was present, ran round a large bush greatly agitated, and apparently on some game which the sportsman expected to put up. The captain followed as fast as he could, but Paris was too quick for him, and before he could well get round to the bush, which was about ten yards from the brink of the ravine, had come to a stand, his ears pricked, his tail wagging like lightning, and his whole frame in a seeming state of ecstacy. "I expected that he had got a hare under the bank, and as the situation was in favour of a shot, I ran towards him with more speed than I should have done had I known that instead of a hare I should find, as I did, a tiger sitting on its rump, and staring Paris in the face. They were not above two yards asunder.

"As soon as the dog found me at his side, he barked, and, giving a spring down, dashed at the tiger. What happened for some moments I really cannot say; the surprise and danger which suddenly affected me banished at once that presence of mind which many boast to possess in all emergencies. However, as soon as my fright had subsided, I began, like a person waking from a dream, to look about, and saw the tiger cantering away at about a hundred and fifty yards' distance with his tail erect, and followed by Paris, who kept barking." The tiger, arriving at a thick cover, disappeared, and the plucky little cocker returned to his dismayed master.

THE LABRADOR SPANIEL.

This dog presents an appearance intermediate between the Newfoundland and the land spaniel. As a swimmer and diver he is almost unmatched. The Labrador spaniel may be considered in the light of a "public character." A number of Saunders's News-Letter vouches for the fact :

“Peeler, the DOG OF THE POLICE.-During a recent in

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vestigation relative to the manner in which the policeman came by his death at Kingstown, a little active and inquisitive dog, of the Labrador breed, was seen from time to time during each day running in and out of the room, as if he took a personal interest in the inquiry. The dog was admired, and a gentleman in the police establishment was asked to whom it belonged. Oh,' said he, don't you know him? We thought every one knew Peeler, the dog of the police.' The gentleman then proceeded to give the interrogator the history of this singular dog. It appeared from the story, that a few years ago poor little Peeler tempted the canine appetite of a Mount St. Bernard, or Newfoundland dog, and was in peril of being swallowed up by him for a luncheon, when a policeman interposed, and, with a blow of his bâton, levelled the assailant and rescued the assailed. From that time, Peeler has united his fortunes with those of the police: wherever they go, he follows; whether pacing with measured tread the tedious 'beat,' or engaged in the energetic duty of arresting a disturber of the public peace. He is a self-constituted general superintendent of the police, visiting station after station, and, after he has made his observations in one district, wending his way to the next. He is frequently seen to enter a third-class carriage at the Kingstown Railway, get out at Black Rock, visit the policestation there, continue his tour of inspection to Booterstown, reach there in time for the train as before, and go on to Dublin to take a peep at the metropolitans;' and having satisfied himself that all is right,' return by an early evening train to Kingstown. He sometimes takes a dislike to an individual, and shuns him as anxiously as he wags his tail at the approach, and frisks about the feet, of another for whom he has a regard. There is one man in the force for whom he has this antipathy; and a day or two ago, seeing him in the train,' he left the carriage and waited for the next, preferring a delay of half an hour to such company; and when the bell rang, with the eagerness with which protracted joy is sought, he ran to his accustomed seat in the third class.' His partiality for the police is extraordinary; wherever he sees a man in the garb of a constable, he expresses his pleasure by walking near him, rubbing against and dancing about him; nor does he forget him in death, for he was at his post in the funeral of Daly, the policeman who was killed in Kingstown. He is able to recognize a few in plain clothes, but they must have been old friends of his. Wherever he goes he gets a crust, a piece of meat, a pat

on the head, or a rub down upon his glossy back, from the hand of a policeman; and he is as well known amongst the body as any man in it. We have heard of the dog of Montargis, the soldier's dog, the blind beggar's dog, and the dog of the monks of St. Bernard, and been delighted by stories of their fidelity and sagacity; but none are more interesting than Peeler, the dog of the Police,' whose heart, enlarged with gratitude to one, grows bountiful to all.'”

THE SETTER, OR LAND SPANIEL.

The setter partakes of the peculiarities of the pointer and spaniel, and, as the former dog derives its name from its habit of standing still and pointing at any game it may discover, the setter is so called because of its custom of "setting" or crouching when marking down it came. There are several varieties of setter. Respecting the common Old English Setter, an authority on such matters gives the following as the points the thoroughbred animal should possess :-" A moderately heavy head, but not so much so as in the pointer; the muzzle not so broad nor square in profile, the lower being nearly rounded off, but the upper being still nearly a right angle. The eye is similar to that of the pointer, but not so soft, being more sparkling, and full of spirit; the ear long, but thin, and covered with soft silky hair, slightly waved. The neck is long, but straighter than that of the pointer, being also lighter, and very flexible. The back and loins are as strong as those of the pointer, the latter also being rather longer; the hips also are more ragged, and the ribs not so round and barrel-like. The tail, or flag,' is usually set on a little lower, is furnished with a fan-like brush of long hair, and is slightly curled upward towards the tip; but it never should be carried over the back or raised above the level of its root, excepting while standing, and then a slight elevation is admired, every hair standing down with a stiff and regular appearance. The elbow, when in perfection, is placed so low as to be fully an inch below the brisket, making the fore-arm appear very short. The hind feet and legs are clothed with hair, or feathered,' as it is called, in the same way as the fore-legs, and the amount of this beautiful provision is taken into consideration in selecting a dog for his points."

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The setter has its peculiarities respecting water. To get through a day's work creditably, it should be enabled to wet the whole of its body every half-hour or so. Moreover, it cannot do without water to drink so long as the pointer, though