174 IRISH GREYHOUND. 



Scandinavia or Denmark, and that its earliest co- 

 lour was buff or pale ochry, in that respect also 

 approximating the breeds of the East ; and, finally, 

 that the mystical bitch in Druidical lore appears to 

 refer to this species both in Britain and Ireland: 

 though, we must admit, that in Mythical compo- 

 sition, a generical name would be easily transferred 

 to a particular species of later date, if it were more 

 noble and grand in its appearance. It may be that 

 the ancient race, similar to the Scottish, was crossed 

 with the great Danish dog by the Northman, and, 

 under favourable circumstances, increased to the 

 great stature since so much admired. 



Of the specimens we have seen, and the figures 

 published, no two appear now exactly alike in struc- 

 ture or colour, so that mastiff, stag-hound, and 

 blood^hound may likewise have been crossed with 

 the ancient species ; and from this circumstance, no 

 doubt, arises the difference in qualities ascribed to 

 them. Still this dog is the largest in Western 

 Europe; and the extirpation of wolves in Ireland 

 may, in part at least, be justly due to its exertions. 

 The bitch kept by Buffon killed the male wolf she 

 was bred up with, which proves that one was more 

 than a match for that fierce animal. Lord Alta- 

 mont is said to have kept the last dogs of this race, 

 and it was one of his that Mr. Lambert described in 

 the Linna?an Transactions. But we have heard 

 that Lord O'Neil likewise had some; and, still 

 later, that Mr. Hamilton Rowan used often to ap- 

 pear in Dublin with a couple of these majestic dogs. 



