42 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE DOG. 



large 1 - greyhound, of size and strength far superior to ordinary 

 dogs. 



The original greyhound was unquestionably a long-haired 

 dog, and the modern smooth-coated and thin animal, now known 

 by that name, is comparatively of recent date. Of this we 

 nave sufficient evidence in the ancient monuments of Egypt, 

 where, as well as in Persia and India, rough greyhounds of 

 great size and power still exist. A dog of the same kind has 

 been described by H. Smith, as well known in Arabia ; and 

 a gigantic rough greyhound was found by Doctor Clarke, on 

 the confines of Circassia, and by him described as identical 

 with our old Irish greyhound. (Clarke's Travels in Russia, 

 Tartar y, and Turkey.) 



We find that the smooth greyhound was, on its first intro- 

 duction, known as "gaze-hound," being remarkable solely 

 for sight and speed, (H. Smith ;) and in process of time the 

 new appellation became forgotten, and merged in the original 

 and well-known one of greyhound, up to that period given 

 exclusively to the long-haired variety, (H. Smith.) We may 

 then infer, that not only was the Irish wolf-dog a greyhound, 

 but also long-haired. Whence he originally came would, 

 perhaps, be difficult to determine with any precision ; but if I 

 might be permitted to hazard a conjecture, I should refer his 

 origin to Western Asia, where we find a di>tim-t representa- 

 tive of him still existing. From thence he was brought by 

 the Scythij the progenitors of the Scoli, or ancient Irish. Per- 

 haos the best mode of defining the true character of the an- 

 cient wolf-dog, will be to point to his modern representative ; 

 and this can, I conceive, be done without difficulty. I may 

 here quote a writer in the "Penny Cyclopaedia," (Art. Ire- 

 land,*) " The Scoti, who were in possession of the island at 

 the time of the introduction of Christianity, appear to have 

 been, to a great extent, the successors of a people whose name 

 and monuments indicate a close affinity with the Belgae (a 



My friend, George Petrie, the celebrated Irish antiquarian, who haa 

 published an interesting account of Cyclopean architectural remains as 

 found in Ireland, is disposed to connect these remains with the mysterious 

 *f\a<ryoi (Pelasgi) of Herodotus, which have given rise to many Pelasgian 

 theories. He has also found many curious traces of Greece in Ireland. 

 Now the Irish annalists, &c., trace these colonies, as well as the Tuatha 

 da Danaans, (Danai ?) from GREECE. Is not Mr. Petrie's opinion, there- 

 fore, that to that country we bwe the dog, deserving of attention ; and will 

 not this afford some sort of plausibility, at least, to my own derivation of 

 t j * name of the greyhound : Canis Graius Grajus sive Grtccus Greek 



