The Irish Wolfhound 169 



this class, and in breeding Wolfliounds it is indispen- 

 sable to bear this fact in mind : degeneracy frequently 

 follows loss of occupation, which is apt to ensue in 

 the case of all hounds no longer required for the chase. 

 In colour their coat resembles that of the Deerhound, 

 viz., brindle, grey, red, black, white, fawn, whilst 

 the hair should be rough and of a wiry texture all 

 over the body, a soft or woolly coat being decidedly 

 a faulty one, though by no means an uncommon 

 defect. It is stated that black-and-tan specimens 

 of the breed are occasionally seen, but this is not a 

 colour that finds favour amongst connoisseurs of 

 these hounds. As in all other dogs required to under- 

 go swift and prolonged exertion, great depth of chest 

 is a sine qua non. Big-boned forearms, strong wrist 

 joints, stout pasterns and compact feet are in the 

 main the principal essentials of good conformation. 

 Two prominent faults are common in connection 

 with the fore limbs, i.e., lightness of bone and splay 

 feet, more especially the latter. Unless a hound 

 comes well upon its points during early maturity 

 it will never be a well-developed dog, as later de- 

 velopment never obliterates defects firmly established 

 during youth. The neck ought to be of medium 

 length, of moderate breadth in all proportions, and 

 carried well up, but free from loose skin. Needless 

 to say the back must be long, broad, arched at the 

 loins, where there must be a maximum of muscular 



