The Irish Wolfhound. 271 



the Field, that discussion and controversy thereon 

 would arise, and such was the case. Little new 

 material as to the history of the Irish dog was 

 elicited, and it was to be regretted that Lord Antrim 

 could afford no further particulars as to the animal 

 to which attention was first drawn. 



The following is one of the many stories extant 

 of the Irish wolfhound " at home." '' In the moun- 

 tainous parts of the county Tyrone, some time in the 

 sixteenth century, the inhabitants suffered much 

 from the wolves, and gave from the public fund so 

 much for the head of one of these animals. There 

 lived an adventurer, who, alone and unassisted, made 

 it his occupation to destroy these ravagers. The 

 time for attacking them was long after dark, and mid- 

 night was fixed upon for doing so, as that was their 

 wonted time for leaving their lairs in search of food, 

 when the countrv was at rest and all was still ; then, 

 issuing forth, they fell on their defenceless prey, and 

 the carnage commenced. There was a species of 

 dog for the purpose of hunting them called the wolf 

 dog ; the animal resembled a rough, stout, half-bred 

 greyhound, but was much stronger. In the county 

 Tyrone there was then a large space of ground 

 inclosed by a high stone wall, having a gap at each 

 of the two opposite extremities, and in this were 

 secured the fiocks of the surrounding farmers. 



