2o8 ThE BOOK OF THE Doc. 



In the "Encyclopaedia Britannica" of 1797 we are shown a drawing of the Irish Gre-hound, 

 which represents a very thick-set, tall Greyhound, with a rough coat and massive head ; colour 

 apparently brindle or black-and-white. 



The " Sportsman's Cabinet " a very valuable old book on dogs, of which there were 

 but a limited number of copies published in 1803, and which is illustrated by very good 

 engravings after drawings from life by Reinagle, a Royal Academician says : " The dogs of 

 Greece, Denmark, Tartary, and Ireland, are the largest and strongest of their species. The Irish 

 Greyhound is of very ancient race, and still to be found in some far remote parts of that kingdom 

 though they are said to be reduced even in their original climate. They are much larger than the 

 Mastiff; exceedingly ferocious when engaged." A remarkably spirited drawing is given of this 

 dog, which, though faulty in some minor points, gives us an admirable idea of what this grand 

 dog was. 



Notwithstanding the undoubted resemblance of this sketch to a gigantic roujh Greyhound 

 of great power, the letterpress is continued to the effect that the dog is identical with the Great 

 Dane a totally different dog in appearance which is manifestly absurd ; and on the letterpress 

 we can accordingly put no great stress, though the portrait undoubtedly has a real value. 

 E. Jesse coincides in this opinion, as when speaking of the "Sportsman's Cabinet" he says: 

 " It is a work more remarkable for the truth and fineness of its engravings than for the 

 matter contained in it." It is a noticeable and remarkable fact that whilst this book 

 professes to treat of every known variety of British dog, it does not make any mention whatever 

 of the Scottish Deerhound. 



A few extracts from this book are given that bear on the subject under consideration, 

 though not taken from the chapter descriptive of the Irish Wolfhound or Greyhound. 



"The Greyhound, large Danish dog, and Irish Greyhound, have, according to Buffon, 

 exclusive of their likeness of figures and length of muzzle, a similitude of disposition." 



" The peculiar irritability of the olifactory sensation seems by natural observation to 

 depend more upon the largeness than the length of the nose, for the Greyhound, Danish dog, 

 and Irish Greyhound, have evidently less power of scent than the Hound, Terrier, &c." 



" The Bulldog and Irish Greyhound have their ears partly erect." 



" The Great Danish dog, taken from thence to Ireland, the Ukraine, Tartary, Epirus, 

 and Albania, has been changed into the Irish Greyhound, which is the largest of all dogs." 



" The Greyhound and Irish Greyhound, Buffon goes on to say, have produced the mongrel 

 Greyhound, also called the Greyhound with the wolf's hair" in all probability the present 

 Scotch Deerhound (?). 



Dr. Scouler, reading a paper before the Dublin Geological Society in 1837, says: "The 

 Irish Wolfdog was a very distinct race from the Scotch Hound or Wolfdog, which resembled 

 the Irish breed in size and courage, but differed from it by having a sharper muzzle and 

 pendent ears." 



McNeill, in his article on the Irish Wolfhound, written 1838, says: " Whatever may have 

 been the origin of the name, there is little doubt as to the antiquity of a species of dog in 

 this country (Ireland) bearing a great resemblance in many points to the Greyhound of the 

 present day, and passing under that name, though evidently a larger, nobler, and more courageous 

 animal." 



He goes on to argue that " from the rough and uncultivated state of the country, and the 



