178 LETTED XXX. 



through the mistaken notion of increasing its beauty- 

 Are not the decorations which nature bestows on each 

 animal its greate'st ornaments, and is not an inherence 

 to her laws the perfection of taste ? 



THE IRISH WOLF DOG 



is the largest of the canine species, and its appearance 

 the most beautiful and majestic. It was peculiar to 

 Ireland, but is now almost extinct. This was, accord- 

 ing to Buffon, the famous Wolossian dog of antiquity. 

 Wolves are no longer to be met with in Ireland ; 

 and this kind of dog is unserviceable for hunting ei- 

 ther the stag, the fox, or the hare : we need not there- 

 fore be at a loss to discover the cause of the breed 

 being neglected : it would, however, be worth pre- 

 serving, as it is a beautiful animal, its aspect mild, 

 "and its disposition gentle. Although it never seek* 

 to quarrel with any other dogs, it is far superior in 

 combat both to the bull dog and mastiff^ exhibiting 

 those characteristic qualities so much to be admired 

 in rational, as well as irrational beings; strength 

 and courage combined with peaceableness of disposi- 

 tion. 



THE HIGHLAND GREYHOUND 



is a large, fierce, and powerful animal. It was for- 

 merly much esteemed by the chieftains of Scotland* 

 and used in their grand hunting parties, ^but is novr 

 become rare. 



THE COMMON GREYHOUND 



is the swiftest of all the canine race, but as it wants 

 the faculty of scenting its game, it pursues it by the 

 eye. M. Buffon supposes this to be a variety of the 

 Irish wolf dog, rendered more delicate by the differ- 

 ence of climate and management; and it must be 

 confessed that, both m its form and disposition, it 

 bears no small resemblance to that animal. 



Greyhounds were formerly so much- esteemed, that 

 by the forest laws of King Canute, it was enacted that 

 mo person under the degree of a gentleman, should 

 keep any dog o* that kind. 



THE BEAGLE 



is the smallest o all the dogs kept for the chace,, anA 



