Colour
Liver, liver and white, black, and black and white, are by far the most frequent colours of the Spaniel. Tan markings are very common in Welsh Springers.
The Irish Water and the Clumber Spaniel are really the only two varieties free from the introduction of blood from other varieties of the breed.
Except in rare instances, the show-bench Sussex contains a lot of Field Spaniel blood, the result of crossing a typical Sussex Spaniel with a black bitch, over twenty years since, and its perpetuation until the present day.
Head and Ears.—They all agree in the anatomical outlines of their skulls, the greatest breadth being in the head of the Clumber.
Heavy facial expressions are characteristic of the pure Sussex, the half-bred, or Jacobs' strain of Sussex, and the Jacobs' strain of Black Spaniels. Many Cockers also show it.
Long ears, not only long in the cartilage, but heavily feathered—excepting the Northern Irish Water—are very characteristic of Spaniels, but this large amount of hair in this region can hardly be a recommendation for work, knowing that it is very liable to become entangled in brambles, etc.
The occipital dome is well marked, and in some there is evidence of "stop," as in Toys. Muzzles generally broad; nose broad, and cheeks full.
Fore-limbs.—With the exception previously alluded to, Spaniels all agree in having a short arm and short forearm, largely augmented in the Spaniels of to-day (excepting Clumbers, etc.) through the introduction of Sussex blood.