han in Scotland, but
as soon as wolves ceased to exist in the former country, the dogs were
suffered to become extinct also, while in Scotland there was still
abundant employment for them after the days of wolf-hunting were
over--the deer still remained; and useful as they had been as
wolf-dogs, they proved themselves, if possible, still more so as
deer-hounds.

"That the Irish wolf-dog was a tall, rough greyhound, similar in every
respect to the Highland dog of the present day (of which an engraving
is given) cannot be doubted from the following authorities. Strabo
mentions a tall greyhound in use among the Pictish and Celtic nations,
which he states was held in high esteem by our ancestors, and was even
imported into Gaul for the purposes of the chase. Campion expressly
speaks of the Irish wolf-dog as a 'greyhound of great bone and limb.'
Silaus calls it also a greyhound, and asserts that it was imported
into Ireland by the Belgae, and is the same with the renowned Belgic
dog of antiquity, and that it was, during the days of Roman grandeur,
brought to Rome for the combats of the Amphitheatre. Pliny relates a
combat in which the Irish wolf-dog took a part: he calls them 'Canes
Graii Hibernici,' and describes them as much taller than the mastiff.
Holinshed, in speaking of the Irish, says, 'They are not without
wolves, and greyhounds to hunt them.' Evelyn, speaking of the
bear-garden, says, 'The bull-dogs did exceeding well, but the Irish
wolf-dog exceeded; which was a tall greyhound, a stately creature, and
beat a cruel mastiff.'

"Llewellyn, prince of Wales, was presented by King John with a
specimen of this kind of dog. These animals were in those days
permitted to be kept only by princes and chiefs; and in the Welsh laws
of the ninth century we find heavy penalties laid down for the maiming
or injuring of the Irish greyhound, or, as it was styled in the code
alluded to, 'Canis Graius Hibernicus;' and a value was set on them,
equal to more than double that set on the ordinary greyhound.

"Moryson, secretary to Lord-deputy Mountjoy, says, 'The Irishmen and
greyhounds are of great stature.' Lombard remarks, that the finest
hunting dogs in Europe were produced in Ireland: 'Greyhounds useful to
take the stag, wild boar, or wolf.' Pennant describes these dogs as
scarce, and as being led to the chase in leather slips or thongs, and
calls them 'the Irish greyhound.' Bay mentions him as the greatest dog
he had ever seen.