THE IKISTI WOLF DOG. 71 



dog seems to have flourished and to have become nearly 

 extinct with the ancient kings of Ireland, and with the 

 harp and shamrock, is regarded as one of the national 

 emblems of that country. " When princely hospitality 

 was to be found in those palaces, castles, and baronial 

 halls of fair Erin, it is hardly possible to imagine any- 

 thing more aristocratic and imposing than the aspect of 

 these dogs while attending the banquets of their mas- 

 ters. So great indeed was their height, that it has been 

 affirmed that when their chieftain was seated at table, 

 these dogs could rest their heads on their masters' 

 shoulders. However this may have been, it is certain 

 that the bold, majestic, and commanding appearance of 

 the animal, joined to the mild and softened look with 

 which he regarded those to whom he was attached, and 

 whom he was always ready to defend, must have ren- 

 dered him worthy of the enthusiasm with which the re- 

 membrance of him is still cherished by the warm-hearted 

 people of Ireland. The following anecdote, which has 

 been communicated to me by an amiable Irish nobleman, 

 will at all events serve to show the peculiar instinct 

 which the Irish wolf dog was supposed to possess. A 

 gentleman of ancient family, whose name it is useless to 

 mention, from his having been engaged in the troubles 

 which agitated Ireland about fifty or sixty years since, 

 went into a coffee room in Dublin during that period, ac- 

 companied by a noble wolf hound, supposed to be one 

 of the last of the breed. There was only one other 

 gentleman in the coffee room, who on seeing him went 

 up to him and began to notice him. His owner, in con- 

 siderable alarm, begged him to desist, as the dog was 

 fierce and would allow no stranger to touch him. The 

 gentleman resumed his seat, when the dog came up to 



