80 ' THE DOG. 



country in which it is to be found, is rather kept for 

 show than wse, there neither being wolves, or any other 

 formidable beast of prey in Ireland, that seem to re- 

 quire so powerful an antagonist. The wolf-dog is, 

 therefore, bred up in the houses of the great, as an ob- 

 ject either of curiosity or show, and, in appearance, is 

 doubtless both beautiful and majestic. The form of the 

 wolf-dog resembles that of a grey -hound, except that his, 

 limbs are more robust; his eye is peculiarly mild and 

 placid, and the hair in general is perfectly white. His 

 disposition appears to be remarkably gentle ; yet he is 

 endowed with an uncommon portion of strength; and 

 though he is never known to provoke the mastiff to 

 combat, he is sure to conquer if they engage. 



It is very probable that many of the nobler breed of 

 dogs, of which the ancients have given, such beautiful 

 descriptions, are now entirely extinct ; for though the 

 English bull-dog is both courageous and brave, none of 

 them would venture to engage either with a lion or a 

 tiger. The historian JElian, in his description of these 

 animals, gives a remarkable account of their fortitude 

 and strength, which, whilst it proves the barbarity of 

 the Indian's disposition, inclines us to" condemn all ex- 

 periments which are attended with pain ; yet it natu- 

 rally leads us to admire an animal capable of enduring 

 it without murmur or complaint. 



" When Alexander was pursuing his conquests in In- 

 " dia, one of the principal men of the country was de- 

 ** sirous of convincing him of the real bravery and value 

 " of the dogs, and, for this purpose, ordered one of the 

 " most fierce and generous of the tribe to be put into an 

 " inclosure, and to turn into it a stag. The dog gazed 

 " upon it with the most contemptuous indifference, as if 

 " he considered it an objeckbeneath his power ; and, 



