The Irish Wolfhound. 33 



his existence is no longer to be desired ; but such an argument is not 

 worthy of consideration for a moment, for how many thousands of dogs 

 are bred for which no work is provided, nor is any expected of them, 

 added to which, the breed would be admirably suited to the requirements 

 of our colonies. One after another the various breeds of dogs which had 

 of late years more or less degenerated, as, for instance, mastiffs, fox 

 terriers, pugs, St. Bernards, colleys, have become "the rage," and, in 

 consequence, a vast improvement is observable in the numerous specimens 

 shown from time to time. Let us, then, hope that steps may be taken to 

 restore to us such a magnificent animal as the Irish wolfhound. 



That we have in the deerhound the modern ' representative of the old 

 Irish dog is patent ; of less stature, less robust, and of slimmer form, the 

 main characteristics of the original breed remain, and in very exceptional 

 instances specimens " crop up " that throw back to and resemble in a 

 marked manner the old stock from which they have sprung ; for instance, 

 the dog well known at all the leading shows (now for some years lost to 

 sight) as champion Torunn, beyond the facts that he required a somewhat 

 lighter ear and still more massive proportions, combined with greater 

 stature, he evidently approximated more nearly to his distant ancestors than 

 to his immediate ones. The matter of ear here alluded to is probably only a 

 requirement called for by modern and more refined tastes, as it is hardly 

 likely that any very high standard as to quality or looks was ever aimed 

 at or reached by our remote ancestors in any breed of dogs. Strength, 

 stature, and fleetness were the points most carefully cultivated at 

 any rate, as regards those used in the pursuit and capture of large 

 and fierce game. 



It is somewhat remarkable that, whilst we have accounts of almost all 

 the noticeable breeds, including the Irish wolfhound, there is no allusion 

 to any such dog as the deerhound, save in writings of a comparatively 

 recent date. 



The article or essay on the Irish wolfhound, written by Eichardson in 

 1842, is, it is supposed, the only one on this subject in existence; and 

 whilst it is evident to the reader that the subject has been most ably 

 treated and thoroughly sifted by him, yet some ^of his conclusions, if not 

 erroneous, are at least open to question. It is a matter of history that 

 this dog is of very ancient origin, and was well known to and highly 

 prized by the Romans, who frequently used him for their combats in the 



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