St 33, 1885.1 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



816 



greyhound Is the Irish greyhound rendered tlinner and more 

 delicate by culture; far these three dogs, though perfectly dis- 

 tinguishable at first sight, differ no more from each other than 

 three human masculine natives of Holland, Italy and France. 

 A.nd by (.he ?anw reasoning he proceeds to justify the supposi- 

 tion that had the [fish greyhound been a native of France, he 

 would have produced the Danish dog in a cooler climate and 

 the t bound in a warmer one. This conjecture, he 



Observes, is absolutely verified by experience, for the Danish 

 flogs are brought to" us from the North, and the greyhounds 

 \msr.antJnoplc and the Levant." 



The greyhound, largo Danish dog, and Irish greyhound, have 

 afioordtngta Buffon, exclusive of their likeness of figures and 

 length of muzzle, a. similitude of disposition. The peculiar 

 irritability of the olifaetory sensation seems by natural 

 observation to depend, more upon the largeness than the length 

 of the nose, for the greyhound, Danish dog, and Irish grey- 

 hound have evidently less power of scent than the hound, 

 ief, etc. The. bulldog .and Irish greyhound have their ears 

 partly erect The Great Danish jdoe;. taken from thence to 

 Ireland, the Ukraine, Tortary, Epirus and Albauia has been 

 changed into the Irish greyhound, which is the largest of all 

 The greyhound and Dish greyhound, Buffon goes on 

 say, have produced toe mongrel greyhound, also called the 

 5 fiound with the wolf's hair— in. all probability the present 

 Scotch deerhound (?). At any rate, this would tend to prove 

 that the Irish dog was rough as to coat. 



There is mention of thelrish wolfhound in Bingley's "British 

 Quadrupeds?' (1809). The illustration is simply a deformed 

 greyhound, and he indorses Pennant's and Goldsmith's views 

 as to the appearance, etc., of the dog. Captain Brown (1829) 

 also in his book on dogs, alludes to thelrish wolfdog or grey- 

 hound, giving an absurd drawing; his remarks are few and of 

 tittle worth, ~ Dr. Scolder, reading a paper before the Dublin 

 Geological Society in 1837 says T ''The Irish wolfdog was a 

 distinct race from the Scotch hound or wolfdog, which 

 resembled the Irish breed in size and courage, but differed 

 from it by having a sharper muzzle and pendant ears." Curi- 

 ous that "a sharper muzzle and pendaut ears" should consti- 

 tute, "a very distinct breed !" 



NeNeill , in his article on the Irish wolfhound, written 1838, 

 says: "Whatever may have been the origin of the name, 

 there is little doubt as to the antiquity of a species of dog in 

 this country (Ireland), bearing a great resemblance in many 

 points to the greyhound of the present, day, and passing: under 

 that name, though evidently a larger, nobler, and more cour- 

 ageous animal.'' He goes on to argue that "from the rough 

 and uncultivated state of the country, and the nature of tbe 

 game that was then the object of the chase, viz., deer of all 

 sorts, wolves and foxes, that the dogs would be of a larger, 

 fiei eer and more shaggy description than the greyhounds of 

 the present day." 



From the "Museum of Animated Nature," published in 1842 

 to '45 the following account of the Irish wolfdog is taken: "In 

 Scotland and Ireland there existed in very ancient times a 

 noble breed of greyhound used for the chase of the wolf and 

 deer, which appears to us to be the pure source of our present 

 breed. It is quite as possible that the Matin is a modification of 

 the ancient greyhound of Europe — represented by the Irish 

 greyhound or wolfdog— as that is the source of that fine breed 

 as Buffon supposes. Few, we believe, of the old Irish grey- 

 hound exist." 



From a very interesting book entitled "Anecdotes of Dogs," 

 by E. Jesse, published 1840, the following is gleaned: "A cer- 

 tain degree of romance attaches to the Irish wolfdog, but so 

 contradictory are the accounts handed down that it is difficult 

 to do justice to him. The dog flourished at the time of early 

 kings of Ireland, and with harp and shamrock is regarded as 

 one of the national emblems of the country. A gentleman of 

 ancient family (whose name it is unnecessary to mention, 

 from his having been engaged in the troubles which agitated 

 Ireland about forty years ago! went into a coffee room at 

 Dublin during that period, accompanied by a noble wolfdog, 

 supposed to be one of the last of the breed. 



"There w T as only one gentleman in tbe room, whom seeing, 

 the dog, went up to him. and he began to notice him. His 

 owner, in considerable alarm, begged him to desist, as the dog 

 was fierce and never would let a stranger touch him. The 

 gentleman resumed his seat, when the dog came to him and 

 sbowed signs of the greatest pleasure at being noticed, and 

 allowed himself to be fondled. His owner could not disguise 

 his astonishment. 'You are the only person, 1 he said, 'whom 

 that dog would ever allow to touch him without showing re- 

 sentment. May 1 beg the favor of your name?'— mentioning 

 his own at the same time. The stranger announced it: he 

 was the last of his race— one of the most noble and ancient in 

 Ireland, and descended trom one of its kings. 'I do not won- 

 der,' said the owner of the dog, 'at the homage the animal lias 

 paid you. He recognizes in you the descendant of one of our 

 most ancient races of gentlemen, to whom this breed of dog 

 almost exclusively belonged, and the peculiar instinct he pos- 

 sesses has now been shown in a manner which cannot be mis- 

 taken by me, who am so well acquainted with the ferocity 

 this dog has hitherto shown to all strangers.' " 



"In a, poem written by Miss Catherine Phillips, about 1660, 

 the character of the Irish wolfhound is well portrayed, and 

 proves the estimation in which he was held: 



" 'Behold this creature's form and state; 



Him nature surely did create 



That to the world might be exprest 



What mien there can be in a beast. 



More nobleness of form and mind 



Than in the lion we can find; 



Yea. this heroic t>east doth seem 



In majesty to rival him. 



Yet he vouchsafes to men to show 



His service and submission too. 



And here we a distinction have' 



That brute is fierce— the dog is brave; 



He hath himself: so well subdued 



That hunger cannot raake him rode; 



And all his manners do confess 



That courage dwells with gentleness. 



War with the wolf he loves to wage, 



And never quits if he engage; 



But praise him much, and you may chance 



To put him out of countenance ; 



And having d one a deed so brave. 



He looks not sullen, yet looks grave. 



No fondling playfellow is he; 



His master's guard he wills to be, 



Willing for hirn his blood he spent, 



His look is never insolent. 



Pew men to do such noble deeds have learned 



Nor having done could look so unconcerned.' " 



"The strength of these dogs must have been very great ; a 

 nobleman informed me that when he was staying wuth the 

 Knight of Kerry, two Irish wolfdogs made their escape from 

 the place where they were confined, and pulled down and 

 killed a horse which was in an adjoing paddock," 



"The Irish wolfdogs were formerly placed as the support- 

 ers of the arms of the ancient monarchs of Ireland. They 

 were collared "or," with the motto, 'Gentle when stroked, 

 fierce when provoked.'" 



The well-known Mrs. C. Hall wrote to Jesse the following 

 interesting account of an Irish wolfdog: "When I was a 

 child (probably 1813-15), I had a very close friendship with a 

 genuine old wolfdog, 'Bruno' byname. He was the property 



of "an old friend of my grandmother's, who claimed descent 

 from the Irish kings. His name was O'Toole; his manners 

 were the most courtly you can imagine. His visits were my 

 jubilees. There was the kind, dignified old gentleman, who 

 told me tales, and there was his tall, gaunt dog, gray with 

 age, and yet with me fidl of play. There were two terriers 

 rough, etc., etc. O'Toole and has dogs always occupied the 

 same room, the terriers on the same bed. as their master. No 

 entreaty, however, would induce Bruno to sleep on anything 

 softer than stone. He would remove the hearth-rug and lie 

 on the marble. His master used to instance the dog's disdain 

 of luxury as a mark of his noble nature. 



"The O'Toole had three of these dogs. I can recall nothing 

 more picturesque than that majestic old gentleman and his 

 dog, both remnants of a bygone age. Bruno was rough — but 

 not long-coated— very grave, observant, enduring every oue, 

 very fond of children, playing with them gently, but only 

 crouching and fawning on his master; and that, O'Toole would 

 say, 'is proof of my royal blood.' " 



Jesse offers his thanks to Mrs. Hall and to Lady Morgan for 

 their assistance on this matter; the latter introduces the late 

 Hamilton Rowan and his Irish wolfdog Bran into one of her 

 novels. 



Richardson tells us that the late Sir W. Betham, Ulster 

 Kin g-at- Arms, an authority of very high importance on any 

 subject connected with Irish antiquities, in communicating 

 with Mr. Haftield, who read a paper on the Irish wolfhound 

 before the Dublin Natural History Society, 1841, states as fol- 

 lows: "From the mention of the wolfdogs in the old Irish 

 stories and poems, and also from what I have heard from a 

 very old person, long since dead, of his having seen them at 

 The Neale, in the County of Mayo, the seat of Sir oohn 

 Browne, ancestor to Lord Kilmaine, 1 have no doubt they 

 were a gigantic greyhound. My departed friend described 

 them as being very gentle, and that Sir J. Browne allowed 

 them to come into his dining-room, where they put their heads 

 over the. shoulders of those who sat at table; they were not 

 smooth-skinned like our greyhounds, but rough and curly- 

 haired." 



"Thelrish poets call the wolfdog 'cu,' and the common 

 greyhound 'gayer,' a marked distinction, the word 'cu 1 signi- 

 fying a champion." 



The two following anecdotes are given as showing the great 

 courage and power of the Irish greyhound as compared with 

 wild and ferocious animals with which he was opposed in 

 combat; 



From the "Sportsman's Cabinet." — It begins by treating on 

 the possibility of breeding between dog and wolfj and goes on 

 to say — "That every chance might be afforded for the success 

 of this experiment, so industriously made, a she-wolf, taken 

 from its wild state of nature in the woods when only three 

 months old, was shut up in a large court surrounded by a high 

 wall, with an Irish greyhound of the same age. To this court 

 no other beast whatever could have access, and within it was 

 proper shelter for their individual or joint retirement. They 

 were equally strangers to their own species, and knew no 

 person but the man by whom they were fed. In this state 

 they were kept together for three years, that the result of the 

 experiment might be more fully known and confirmed. Dur- 

 ing the first twelve months they perpetually played together, 

 and had every appearance of being exceedingly fond of each 

 other; the second year disputes constantly arose, but more 

 particularly about their provisions, though supplied in great 

 plenty: it was remarked that such always originated with the 

 wolf. When meat and bones were given to them on a large 

 wooden platter, the wolf, instead of seizing either, instantly 

 drove off the dog, then laid hold of the edge of the plate so 

 dexterously as to allow nothing to fall, and carried off the 

 whole. She has been seen to run in this manner with the dish 

 in her teeth five or six times round the court, and never set it 

 down unless to take breath, devour the meat, or to attack the 

 dog when he approached. The dog was at all times evidently 

 stronger than the wolf, but as he was less ferocious a collar 

 for his neck was found necessary for the preservation of his 

 life. By the expiration of the second year these combats be- 

 came more frequent, and the result of each more serious, in 

 which state a collar was found equally necessary for the 

 wolf, who in every successive dispute was worse used than 

 before. 



"During the whole of the two years not the least tendency to 

 venery could be observed in either the one or the other ; at the 

 end of the third year these sensations became perceptible in 

 each, but produced no marks of affection in either. The 

 state they were in, instead of rendering them more peaceful 

 and accommodating to each other, only seemed to promote 

 new cause of contest, and excite more frequent opportunities 

 to renew their quarrels. Discontented howlings and roarings 

 of disappointment were incessant, they never approached 

 each other but to fight, and at the end of three weeks were 

 both completely emaciated. In this eternal warfare and 

 struggle for superiority they fought with such determined 

 desperation that the wolf was killed in the contest. Upon the 

 death of his companion tbe dog was set at liberty, but was 

 obliged to be shot, owing to its ferocity." 



The second story is taken from "Two Years in Canada," by 

 Major Strickland, written in 1825: "I loaded my gun with 

 ball, and in company with Dennis and his father started off 

 for the place where Master Bruin had been seen, I took Nep- 

 tune with me, a remarkably fine Irish greyhound, one of the 

 most powf ully-built dogs of that breed I had ever seen, and 

 well he proved his strength and courage this day. After pro- 

 ceeding nearly two miles, Neptune raised bis head and looked 

 around; in the next instant he was dashing along in full chase 

 of Mr. Brain, who was making the best of his way up the 

 hill. We joined the chase, with alacrity, but not in time to 

 witness the set-to between these savage opponents; for while 

 we were gaining the brow of the hill a desperate fight was go- 

 ing on only a few yards from us, Neptune sometimes having 

 the best of it, sometimes Bruin. I found it impossible to fire 

 for fear of killing the dog. We then tried to pull him off, so 

 as to enable me to shoot the bear; this we found equally dif- 

 ficult, the dog had such fast hold of his throat: he was, indeed, 

 perfectly furious. With the aid of the dog, etc., etc., the bear 

 was slung to a pole alive, and the homeward march began. I 

 had great difficulty in keeping the dog off ; he would rush in 

 avery moment, in spite of all I could do, and seize poor Bruin 

 by the side and shake him most unmercifully. I had enough 

 to do, with the help of a stout stick, to keep him and the bear 

 iu order; the latter was equally violent, and tried to claw the 

 men carrying him. I wished to keep the bast alive, but was 

 destined to be disappointed, for what with the savage, attack 

 of the dog, and the beating I was obliged to give him to keep 

 him quiet, he died before we reached the. clearing. He weighed 

 157 pounds only." 



Some dogs were owned by the late Hamilton Rowan, of 

 Merrion Square, Dublin, which were erroneously asserted to 

 be Irish wolfhounds. Regarding these dogs the following 

 communication was kindly made to the writer by Mr. Betham, 

 a son of Sir W. Betham. before alluded to: "My father was 

 very intimate with the late Hamilton Rowan, who was the 

 only man possessed of the breed (Irish wolfhound), and who 

 was so chary of it that he would never give away a dog pup 

 without first castrating him. I have repeatedly seen the dogs 

 with him when I was a boy, and heard him tell my father how 

 he became possessed of them. He was in Paris about the time 

 of the first French revolution, and was given a dog and a bitch, 

 and was told that they were Danish. He then went to Den- 

 mark, thinking he would see more of the breed. When he 

 got there he was told they were not Danish, but Irish, and 

 were brought over by some one from Ireland— I forget whom. 

 The dogs were of a very peculiar color—a kind of brindled 

 blue and white, sometimes all brindled, and sometimes a great 

 deal of white, with large, irregular brindle patches, and were 

 much given to weak eyes. They stood about % feet i or 6 



inches at the shoulder, were smooth haired, and were a most, 

 powerful dog. Hamilton Rowan was very proud of being the 

 only possessor of the breed, and seldom went out without our 

 or more accompanying hiro. I have not seen any cue speci- 

 men of the breed since his death, when one eamc into the pog 

 session of a poor man in my neighborhood, 



"It was a pup then, and had all the characteristics of the 

 breed, was very large, and a fine specimen. 1 wrote to tht- 

 Zoological Gardens in Dublin describing the dog, Urging I 

 to secure him; but they refused, and he was afterward soLi to 

 a gentleman. ; ' 



In a second letter he goes on tosay: "I can speak from per- 

 sonal knowledge, and from having often seen the dogs, that 

 the true breed of Irish wolfdogs are smooth-haired, not shaggy 

 like the Scotch deerhound. 1. a,m not acquainted with the 

 German boarhound (i. c, Great Dane); very possibly they 

 might have been somewhat similar to the. Irish breed, Hamil- 

 ton Rowan's dogs were very powerful, and at the same time 

 active dogs, with rather a sharp nose and shrill bark. My 

 father used to say that when he dined at Hamilton Rowan's 

 the dogs used to be in the parlor, and were so tall thoy could 

 put their heads over the guests' shoulders when sitting at the. 

 table, though the dogs were standing on the floor." 



Beyond a shadow of a doubt these dogs were simply Great 

 Danes, as H. Rowan had evidently been told in Paris; the 

 description leaves no doubt on that head. Richardson tells us 

 the fact was that Mr. Rowan owned some of the breed known 

 as Great Danes, and he never by chance called them by a 

 wrong name. He also owned a true wolfdog, and knesv him 

 to be such, calling him "the last of his race." This dog was a 

 large rough greyhound of iron-gray color. Mr. Rowan sub- 

 sequently presented this dog to Lord Nugent. In corrobora- 

 tion of this fact the writer was informed by the late Sir John 

 Power, who recollected H. Rowan and his dogs, and who 

 would have reached man's estate at the time, and been 

 well able to judge of them, being a, thorough lover of the 

 canine, race, that Richardson's description of the true wolfdog 

 belonging to H. Rowan was right. Mr. Betham remembers 

 the dogs only as a boy, and the distinction between the Danish 

 dogs and the true old rough dog would hardly have struck 

 him; hence, the misconception on the matter. Mr. Betham's 

 account is ouly inserted and confuted to remove any impres- 

 sion that certain of Hamilton Rowan's dogs were aligh t but 

 Great Danes, which has been erroneously otherwise concluded. 

 Mr. Betham confesses, it will be seen, that he is not ac- 

 quainted with the Great Dane or boarhound, which a re com- 

 mon and plentiful in all contintal countries; he cannot, con- 

 sequently, be considered a fair judge on the subject. 



Youatthas this regarding the Dish wolfdog; "This animal 

 is nearly extinct, or only to be met with at the mansions of 

 one or two persons, by whom he is kept more for show than 

 use, the wild animals which he seemed powerful enough bo 

 conquer having long disappeared from the kingdom. "" The 

 beauty of his appearance and antiquity of his race are his 

 only claims, as he distains the chase of stag, fox, or hare, 

 though he is ever ready to protect the person and property of 

 his master. His size is various, some having attained "the 

 height of four feet, and Dr. Goldsmith states lie saw one as 

 large as a yearling calf. He is shaped like the greyhound but 

 stouter; and the only dog the writer from whom this account 

 is taken ever saw approaching his graceful figure, combining 

 beauty with strength, is the large Spanish wolfdog. The same 

 writer says that his grandfather had an Irish wolfdog that 

 saved his' mother's life from a wolf. She was paying a visit, 

 attended by this faithful follower. He rushed on his foe just 

 when he was about to make his spring, and after a tierce 

 struggle laid him dead at his mistress' Jfeet. His name was 

 Bran." (Sporting Magazine, 1887). 



The assertion, made by several authors, that the Irish wolf- 

 hound disdains the chase of stag, fox, and hare is utterly 

 absurd, andit is a well-known fact 'that all dogs of the grey- 

 hound breed will readily chase and attack any animal which 

 flees from them, and to pursue which they are encouraged. 



[TO BE CONTINUED]. 



The Irish Wolfhound Club of Great Britain has been or gan- 

 ized to give special attention to this breed. 



Laloe, Esq., G. W. S. Lennox, Esq., R, Clifton, Esq,, A, Rus- 

 sell, Esq., M. Le B. Kennedy, Esq. Hon. Secretary and Treas- 

 urer, pro tern., Captain Graham, Redneck, Dursley. Hon. 

 Secretary for Ireland, R. Clifton, Esq., Anchor Brewery, 

 Usher street, Dublin. The annual subscription for each mem- 

 ber is two guineas, payable on the first day of January in 

 each year. Honorary members arc admitted at a subscription 

 of one guinea. The standard of points is as follows: 



1. General appearance. — The Irish wolfhound should not be 

 quite so heavy or massive as the Great Dane, but more so than 

 the deerhound, which in general type he should otherwise re- 

 semble; of great size and commanding appearance; very 

 muscular; strongly though gracefully built; movements easy 

 and active; head and neck carried high; the tail carried with 

 an upward sweep, with a slight curve toward the extremity. 



The medium height and weight of dogs should be 81 inches 

 and 120 pounds; of bitches, 28 inches and 90 pounds. Any 

 thing below this should be debarred from competition. Great 

 size, including height at shoulder and proportionate length of 

 body, is the desideratum to be aimed at, and it is desired to 

 firmly establish a race that shall average from 82 to 34 inches 

 in dogs, showing the requisite power, activity, courage and 

 symmetry. 



2. Head;.— Long, the frontal bones of the forehead very 

 slightly raised and very little indentation between the eyes. 

 Skull not too broad. Muzzle long and moderately pointed. 

 Ears small and greyhound-like in carriage. 



3. Neck.— Rather long, very strong and muscular, well arched 

 without dewlap or loose skin about the throat, 



4. Chest. — Very deep. Breast wide. 



5. Back. — Rather long than short. Loins arched, 



6. Tail.— Long and slightly curved, of moderate thickness, 

 and well covered with hah - . 



7. Belly. — Well drawn up. 



8. Fore-quarters.— Shoulders muscular, giving breadth of 

 chest, set sloping. Elbows well under, neither turned inward 

 nor outward. Leg, forearm muscular, and the whole leg strong 

 and quite straight. 



9. Hindquarters.— Muscular thighs, and second thigh long 

 and strong as in the greyhound, and hocks w-ell let down and 

 turning neither in nor out. 



.10. Feet.— Moderately large and round, neither turned iu w arrt 

 nor outward. Toes well arched and closed. Nails very strong 

 and curved. 



11. Hair.— Rough and hard on body, legs and head; espe- 

 cially wiry and long over eyes and under jaw. 



12. Color and markings.— -The recognized colors are gray, 

 brindle, red, black, pure white, fawn or any color that appears 

 in the deerhound. 



13. Faults. —Too light or heavy a head, too highly-arched 

 frontal bone, large ears and hanging flat to the face, short 

 neck, full dewlap, too narrow or too broad a chest, sunken oi 

 hollow or quite straight back, bent forelegs, overbent fetlocks, 

 twisted feet, spreading toes, too curly a tail, weak hindquar- 

 ters and a general want of muscle, too short in body. 



A SPITZ'S LONG JOURNEY.-A family named Hill, re- 

 siding near this place, on removing to Kansas, took with them 

 a small spitz dog that had been raised here. Shortly after 

 their arrival there the little fellow disappeared and was not 

 heard from until four months aftei ward, when he appeared 

 at his old home, happy and in good condition, though having 

 traveled some 600 miles alone,— V. S. W. (Coralville. Iowa), 



