THE IRISH GREYHOUND OR WOLF-DOG. 39 



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 suf- 

 fered 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 incontestible fact that the domestic dog, when used for the pursuit 

 of ferocKms animals, should be invariably larger and apparently more powerful 

 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 certainly 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 most 

 powerful breeds. The usual height of the mastiff does not exceed 30 inches ; 

 and, arguing as above, we may reasonably conclude that, to obtain the requisite 

 combination of speed and power, a height of at least 33 inches would have been 

 reached. Many writers, however, put his stature down as far exceeding that. 

 Goldsmith states he stood 4 feet ; Buffon states one sitting measured 5 feet in 

 height ; Bewick, that the Irish wolfhound was about 3 feet in height ; 

 Richardson, arguing from the measurements of the skulls of the Irish wolf- 

 hound preserved at the present time in the Royal Irish Academy, pronounced 

 it his opinion that they must have stood 40 inches. 



It is perfectly certain, from these and many other accounts, allusion to 

 which want of space renders impossible, that the dog was of vast size and 



