The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2): Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the FieldTaplin, William
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The Sporting Dictionary and Rural Repository, Volume 2 (of 2): Of General Information upon Every Subject Appertaining to the Sports of the Field
Taplin, William
Hunting -- Dictionaries; Sports -- Dictionaries
Some years since, a late Lord Chief Justice of the Court of King's Bench
laid it down as a rule, and promulgated the opinion, from the bench
during a trial then pending, that TWENTY POUNDS was a good and
sufficient price for a SOUND HORSE; and whether a _warranty_ was or was
not given, was totally immaterial: that sum implied a warranty, not only
for the horse's soundness at the time of his being then sold, but that
he should continue so for _at least_ three months afterwards; a
declaration so truly ridiculous in itself, and so void of every
principle of equity, that any man, to make it now, would lay
indisputable claim to the appellation of FOOL or MADMAN.
SPANIEL—is the name of a dog of which there are different kinds; and
even these have been so repeatedly crossed, that, unless it is in the
possession of sportsmen who have been careful in preserving the purity
of the breed perfectly free from _casual_ contamination, the well-bred
genuine _cocking_ Spaniel is difficult to obtain. There are four
distinct kinds of dog passing under this denomination; the large _water
Spaniel_, and a smaller of the same sort. Of _land Spaniels_ there are
two kinds also; the one larger than the other, much stronger in the
bone, but with curly waves in the hair; and the small yellow pied
springing Spaniel, (used in pheasant and cock shooting,) whose hair is
rather long, soft, and delicately pliable, with ears of the same
description, reaching, when extended, beyond the point of the nose. The
two kinds first mentioned are chiefly confined to the purposes of wild
fowl shooting, in moors, marshes, and the neighbourhood of rivers; where
ducks, wigeons, teal, coots, moor-hens, dab-chicks, and snipes, are to
be found; to all which they are particularly appropriate; not more for
their indefatigable industry in _finding_ the game, than for their
surmounting every obstacle to recover it, and bring it to hand when
_killed_. They are also of most wonderful sagacity, fidelity, and
observation; their olfactory sensations almost exceed belief, by which
alone they are taught the most incredible performances. Sticks, gloves,
handkerchiefs, coin, or any other article left some miles behind by the
owner upon the road, or any remote spot, (totally unknown to them,) they
will retrace to any distance upon a signal being given with the hand,
and never relinquish the search till they bring it safe to their master.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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