3 ^4 Extracts from the Minute Book 



Ruscus laxus, 



Foliis ellipticis utrinque acutis mucronato-pungentibus 

 fupra fioriferis nudis, ramis laxis. 



The fpecific character of the common Rufcus aculeatus 

 mud be altered to 



Foliis ovatis mucronato-pungentibus fupra fioriferis nu- 

 dis, ramis itrictis. 



Jan. 3, The following extract of a letter from the Earl of Alta- 

 1797. mont to A. B. Lambert, Efq. V.P.L.S. was read to the Society. 



" There were formerly in Ireland two kinds of wolf-dogs, 

 44 the greyhound and the maftifif. Till within theie two 

 ** years I was poffefTcd of both kinds, perfectly diftinCl and 

 " eafily known from each other. The_Jbeads were not fo. 

 " fiiarp in the latter as-aa-4Jx©HB5nna% but there itemed a 

 " great fimilarity of temper and difpoiition, both being 

 " harmleis and indolent. The painting in. your porTeffion 

 " is of the maftiff wolf-dog. [See tab. 3, of" the preient 

 *' volume.] 



" I have at prefent five wolf-dogs remaining, three males 

 " and two females;, in thefe the two forts appear to be 

 " mixed. The dam was of the maftiff, the fire, if I am not 

 44 miftaken, was of the greyhound kind. The fire and dam 

 " had not dwindled in fize from any that I-remember here. 

 " Thole which now remain are too young to judge of.. 

 " We have an old man here, named Bryan Scahil, now in 

 " his 119th year, whofe memory feems accurate, and all 

 " his faculties complete. He perfectly remembers the hunt- 

 " ing of wolves in Ireland, as a common matter of fporr, 



"and 



