34 British Dogs. 



arena ; and that he was retained in a certain degree of purity to within 

 a comparatively recent period, when, owing to the extinction of wolves, 

 and presumably to the indifference and carelessness of owners, this most 

 superb and valuable breed of dog was unaccountably suffered to fall into 

 a very neglected and degenerate state. 



From the general tenor of the accounts we heard of this dog' s dimensions 

 and appearance, it is to be gathered that he was of considerably greater 

 stature than any known race of dogs existing at present, and apparently 

 more than equal to the destruction of a wolf. 



It is an incontestable fact that the domestic dog, when used for the 

 pursuit of ferocious animals, should be invariably larger, and apparently 

 more powerful, than his quarry, as the fierce nature, roving habits, and 

 food of the wild animal render him usually more than a match for his 

 domesticated enemy, if only of equal size and stature. We know that the 

 Russian wolfhounds, though equal in stature to the wolf, will not attack 

 him single-handed ; and wisely, for they would certainly be worsted in the 

 combat. 



The Irish wolfhound, being used for both the capture and despatch of 

 the wolf, it would necessarily have been of greyhound conformation, 

 besides being of enormous power. When caught, a heavy dog such as a 

 mastiff would be equal to the destruction of the wolf, but to obtain a dog 

 with greyhound speed and the strength of the mastiff, it would stand to 

 reason that his stature should considerably exceed that of the mastiff one 

 of our tallest as well as most powerful breeds. The usual height of the 

 mastiff does not exceed 30in. ; and, arguing as above, we may reasonably 

 conclude that, to obtain the requisite combination of speed and power, a 

 height of at least 33in. would have been reached. Many writers, however, 

 put his stature down as far exceeding that. Goldsmith states he stood 

 4ft. ; Buffon states one sitting measured 5ft. in height ; Bewick, that the 

 Irish wolfhound was about 3ft. in height ; Richardson, arguing from the 

 measurements of the skulls of the Irish wolfhound preserved at the 

 present time in the Royal Irish Academy, pronounced it his opinion that 

 they must have stood 40in, 



It is perfectly certain, from these and many other accounts, allusion to 

 which want of space renders impossible, that the dog was of vast size and 

 strength, and all agree in stating that, whilst his power was that of the 

 mastiff, his form was that of the greyhound. The " Sportsman's 



