_Head._--Heavy, though smaller and lighter than that of the Clumber.
_Eyes._--Rather deeply set, giving the dog a very thoughtful expression.
_Ears._--These should be long and well clothed with long, silky hair. Above, the ears ought to be rather narrow, but broad below, set on low down, and carried close to sides of head.
_Nose._--Broad and liver-coloured, open nostrils.
_Neck._--Short and strong, and the back long, strong, and level.
_Shoulders and Chest._--A fairly deep chest, oblique shoulders, and well-sprung ribs are necessary.
Flat-sidedness, and "tucked up under" are decidedly faulty.
_Fore-limbs._--Must be short on the leg. Arms and forearms short but well boned. Crooked fore-limbs are objectionable; turned out at elbows equally bad. There should be an abundance of feather springing from the backs of the fore-limbs, and down to the hocks, in the hind ones.
For the show bench the more feather the better.
Feet also well feathered, round and strong. The chief faults of the Sussex are: white hairs on any portion, tan markings, curly coat, too leggy, light in body, snipy head, short ears, want of feather, bad constitution, and Bloodhound expression on face.
To attempt to define the term "Field Spaniel" so as to be free from objection, would be, indeed, a difficult problem.
Unquestionably it is a very ambiguous term, and capable of wide interpretation. The mere fact of the Kennel Club and other shows having a class or classes for Field Spaniels, does not satisfy (though it simplifies classification) the mind of the thoughtful observer.
Anything from a half-bred Clumber, or Irish Water Spaniel may constitute a Field Spaniel, and rightly so, in the eyes of a sportsman.
That such dogs would win--say at a Kennel Club Show--could not be entertained for a moment. It is the cross-bred Sussex that generally comes out top, and the longer and lower and more Sussex-like in character, the better the chances of success on the show bench. These are the author's views, though they may not coincide with those of others.
Some twenty-five years ago the "modern" Field Spaniel was as yet unknown. Jacobs' Champion Kaffir and Royle's Champion Zulu, and my dog Negro (by Kaffir ex Negress) were all black Field Spaniels of the Sussex type.