66 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 
mon and very much dreaded by residents in the more secluded 
parts of the island, even as late as the latter part of the 17th 
Century. 
THE FOX (Vulpes vulgaris). 
Remains of a small carnivore inseparable from the common fox 
were found by me in Shandon Cave, in connexion with bones of the 
Mammoth, Hare, Reindeer, Red Deer, Grisley Bear, Wolf, and a 
large Anserine Bird.* 
The recent Irish Carnivora comprehends the Badger, which is 
still not rare in certain districts, the Fox, Ermine, Pine Marten, 
and Otter. The Common Seal is met with on the coasts, and 
specimens of the Hooded, Greenland, and Grey Seals are reputed 
to have been identified, as Iam informed by Mr. More, of the 
Museum of Science and Art. Neither the Wild Cat, Weasel, nor 
Foumart, which are indigenous to England and Scotland, have 
been recognised in Ireland, the wild cat being considered to be 
merely domesticated individuals gone wild. 
Of the extinct Mammals of Scotland, the Brown Bear is the 
only carnivore not apparently represented in the island, whilst 
the significant absence in both countries of such as the Great 
Cavern Bear, Hyzena, the Lion, Sabre-toothed Lion, Panther, 
Lynx, Egyptian Cat, Glutton, and Arctic Fox indicate an early 
insulation of Ireland. Perhaps the Irish Elk owed its seeming 
prevalence in Ireland to having none of the above nor Man to prey 
upon it. 
Tue IrntisH Woxtr Doc. 
The formidable dog under this name seems to have been used 
in Ireland from time immemorial up to the decline and extine- 
tion of the wolf. It was evidently the companion of the warrior 
in battle. and was used also in hunting the boar, deer, and es- 
pecially the wolf. From the evidence furnished in an elaborate 
article on this dog,f it would seem that the animal belonged to 
the same race as the Scotch rough-haired Deer-hound, and that 
view is further supported by skulls discovered in a crannoge 
* Trans, Roy. Irish Acad., vol. xxvi. p. 228, 
+ Irish Penny Magazine, Vol. I. 
