DOG. 283 



to be kept rather for shew than use, being equally 

 unserviceable for hunting either the stag, hare, or 

 fox. Its ancient use was that of clearing the 

 country from wolves. In the 3d volume of the 

 Transactions of the Linnrean Society we find an 

 account of a Dog of this kind, by A. B. Lam- 

 bert, Esq. who informs us that the breed is now 

 become nearly extinct in Ireland, those in the 

 possession of the Earl of Altamont (eight in num- 

 ber) being the only ones in the country. The 

 specimen described by Mr. Lambert measured 

 sixty one inches from the nose to the tip of the 

 tail; but they were formerly of a much larger 

 size, and in shape more resembling a Greyhound. 

 Dr. Goldsmith assures us that the largest of those 

 which he saw (and he adds that he had seen a 

 dozen) was about four feet high, or as tall as a 

 calf of a year old. 



Common Greyhound. (Canis Grajus. Lin. 

 Gmd. ) This well-known Dog is remarkable for 

 the slenderness of its shape, the length of its 

 snout, and the extreme swiftness of its course. 

 It was formerly held in high estimation in Eng- 

 land, and Mr. Pennant informs us, that by the 

 forest laws of King Canute it was enacted, that 

 no one under the degree of a gentleman should 

 presume to keep a Greyhound. The Greyhound 

 wants the faculty of quick scent, and follows his 

 prey merely by the eye. 



Italian Greyhound. This is a srnall and beauti- 

 ful variety of the former. 



Naked Dog. This singular and unpleasing va- 



