524 



CARNIVORES. 



were formerly in Ireland two races of wolf-dogs, one of which was a greyhound 

 and the other a mastiff, somewhat resembling the gi-eat Dane : and it is shown 

 from an old tigure that there was also a cross breed between the gi-eyhound and 

 the mastitf-like dog, in which, however, the characteristics of the latter pre- 

 dominated. Skulls of these dogs have been discovered in various parts of Ireland, 

 which indicate animals of great size and power. Some of these, belonging to tlie 

 mastitf-like breed, are considerably larger than the skull of a German boarhound, 

 which stood 32^ inches at the shoulder. 



other Grey- In Eastern Europe and Western Asia there are several well- 



hounds, marked breeds of long-haired greyhounds or deerhounds differing 

 more or less markedly from one another, of which the Grecian, Persian, and 





■^?e'«^'\-^-- NJX" 



fEBSiAN GREVHOUSD (J nal. size). 



Russian are the best known. The Grecian greyhound, which is used for coursing 

 hares and can run either by scent or by sight, diffei-s from the English greyhound 

 by its completely pendent eai-s, the moderately long and silky hair clothing the 

 body and the thickly-haired setter-like tail. The Albanian greyhound is a some- 

 what heavily-built animal, with finer hair on the body and longer and coarser hair 

 on the tail. Tlie Persians have long been celebrated for the excellence of their 

 greyhounds, which, although less fleet than the English breed, are used in relays for 



