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, “the greyhound, the greathound, the graceful of limb;” and most of my readers are familiar with that beautiful poem, the “Grave of the Greyhound.” These animals were in those days permitted to be kept only by princes and chiefs; and in the Welch 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 upon 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 says 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.” Ray describes him as the “greatest dog” he had ever seen. Buffon says he saw an “Irish greyhound” which measured five feet in height when in a sitting posture, and says that all other sorts of greyhounds are descended from him, and that _in Scotland it is called the Highland greyhound_, that it is very large, deep chested, and covered with long rough hair. Scottish noblemen were not always content with such specimens of this dog as their own country produced, but frequently sent for them to Ireland, conceiving doubtless that they would be found better and purer in their native land. The following is a copy of a letter addressed by Deputy Falkland to the Earl of Cork in 1623:-- “MY LORD, I have lately received letters from my Lord Duke of Buccleuch and others of my noble friends, who have entreated me to send them some greyhound dogs and bitches out of this kingdom, of the largest sort, which I perceive they intend to present unto divers princes and other noble persons; and if you can possibly, let them be white, which is the colour most in request here. Expecting your answer by the bearer, I commit you to the protection of the Almighty, and am Your lordship’s attached friend, FALKLAND.”