32 British Dogs. 



shoulder, 29iin. ; length from nose to set on of tail, 49in. ; length of 

 tail, 22|in. ; girth of chest, 32in. ; girth of loin, 24in. ; girth of head, 

 16in. ; girth of forearm just below elbow when standing, Sin. ; length 

 of head from occiput to tip of nose, llin. ; girth of muzzle midway 

 between eyes and tip of nose, 9in. ; colour, light brindle. 



Dr. Alexander's Bran : Age, 6 years ; weight, 821b. ; height at 

 shoulder, 28in. ; length from nose to set on of tail, 47in. ; length of 

 tail, 19in. ; girth of chest, 33in. ; girth of loin, 25in. ; girth of head, 

 17in. ; girth of forearm, S^in. ; length of head from occiput to tip of 

 nose, ll|in. ; girth of muzzle midway between eyes and tip of nose, Sin. 



CHAPTER III. THE IRISH WOLFHOUND. 



BY CAPT. G. A. GRAHAM. 



To do full justice to this subject is almost impossible, owing to the fact 

 that there has been a generally received impression amongst modern 

 writers that this noble breed of dog is entirely extinct ! That the breed 

 in its " original integrity " has apparently disappeared cannot be 

 disputed, yet there can be little doubt that so much of the true breed is 

 forthcoming, both in the race still known in Ireland as the " Irish wolf- 

 hound " (to be met with, however, in one or two places only), and in our 

 modern deerhound, as to allow of the complete recovery of the breed in its 

 pristine grandeur, with proper management, in judicious hands. It is a 

 fact well known to all modern mastiff breeders who have thoroughly 

 studied the history of their breed that, until within the last thirty or forty 

 years, mastiffs, as a pure race, had almost become extinct. Active 

 measures were taken by various spirited individuals, which resulted in the 

 complete recovery of the breed, in a form at least equal, if not superior, to 

 what it was of yore. 



Why should not, then, such measures be taken to recover the more 

 ancient, and certainly equally noble, race of Irish wolfhounds ? It may be 

 argued that, the services of such a dog no longer being required for sport, 



