O'Eeilly — Notes on the History of the Irish Wolf-Dog. 339 
molosse being explained by Littre : — " Espece de chien que les anciens 
employaient k la garde des troupeaux," and being still in use in 
Frencli poetry. 
Taking for granted that there was an importation of Irish wolf- 
dogs in Spain during the 17th and commencement of 18th centuries, 
it would be reasonable to presume that the race of these dogs may 
still be surviving in Biscay or other parts of the Pyrenees, since 
wolves exist there still, swine are herded as of yore, and the climate 
of this mountainy district would not materially tend to the degenera- 
tion of the race. 
There is a further question as regards the importation — that is, 
liow far back historically can it be traced ? and whether directly from 
Ireland or through foreign ports? In the solving of this question 
some light might perhaps be thrown on the obscure traditions concern- 
ing the relations of Ireland with Spain in olden times. 
