THE IRISH GREYHOUND OR WOLF-DOG. 33 
dog is’ patent; of less stature, less robust, and of slimmer form, the main 
characteristics of the original breed remain, and in very exceptional instances 
specimens “crop. up” that throw back to and resemble in a marked manner 
the old stock from which they have sprung ; for instance, the dog well known 
at all the leading shows (now for some years lost to sight) as champion Torrum. 
Beyond the facts that he required a somewhat lighter ear and still more 
massive proportions; combined with greater stature, he evidently approximated 
more nearly to his distant ancestors than to his immediate ones. The matter 
of ear here alluded to is probably only a requirement called for by modern 
and more refined tastes, as it is hardly likely that any very high standard as 
to quality or looks was ever aimed at or reached by our remote ancestors in 
any breed of dogs. Strength, stature, and fleetness were the points most care- 
fully cultivated—at any rate, as regards those used. in the pursuit and capture 
of large and fierce game. 
It is'somewhat remarkable that, whilst we have accounts of almost all the 
noticeable breeds, including the Irish wolfhound, there is no allusion to any 
such dog as the deerhound save in writings of a comparatively recent date. 
The article or essay on the Irish wolfhound, written by Richardson in 1842, 
is, it is supposed, the only one on this subject in existence ; and whilst it is 
evident to the reader that the subject has been most ably treated and thoroughly 
sifted by him, yet some of his conclusions, if not erroneous, are at least open 
to question. It is a matter of history that this dog is of very ancient origin, 
and was well known to and highly prized by the Romans, who frequently 
used him for their combats in the arena ; and that he was retained in a certain 
degree of purity to within a comparatively recent period, when, owing to the 
extinction of wolves, and presumably to the indifference and carelessness of 
owners, this most superb and valuable breed of dog was unaccountably suffered 
to fall into a very neglected and degenerate state. , 
From the general tenor of the accounts.we hear of this dog’s dimensions and 
appearance, it is to be gathered that he was of considerably greater stature 
than any known race of dogs existing at present, and apparently more than 
equal to the destruction of a wolf. 
It is an incontestable fact that the domestic dog, when used for the pursuit 
of ferocious animals, should be invariably larger and apparently more power- 
ful than his quarry, as the fierce nature, roving habits, and food of the wild 
animal render him usually more than a match for his domesticated enemy, if 
only of equal size and stature. We know that the Russian wolfhounds, though 
equal in stature to the wolf, will not attack him single-handed ; and wisely, for 
they would ¢ertainly be worsted in the combat. 
The Irish wolfhound being used for both the capture and despatch of the 
wolf, it would necessarily have been of greyhound conformation, besides being 
of enormous power. When caught, a heavy dog such as a mastiff would be 
equal to the destruction: of the wolf; but to obtain a dog with greyhound 
speed and the strength of the mastiff, it would stand to. reason that his stature 
should considerably exceed that. of the.mastiff—one of our tallest as well as 
Cc 
