The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 45, May 8, 1841 — John Shaqi
The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 45, May 8, 1841Various
History
The Irish Penny Journal, Vol. 1 No. 45, May 8, 1841
Various
Ireland -- Periodicals
This animal is nearly extinct. Even Glengarry, whose dogs were once
so famous, has not one genuine specimen left, and but a few remain
scattered here and there through the north of Ireland and the Highlands
of Scotland. Mr Nolan’s dog “Oscar,” whose portrait heads this article,
is the finest specimen of the kind I have ever seen, standing 28½ inches
in height at the shoulders; their average height in their very best days
seems to have been about 30 inches. The colour of these dogs varies, but
the most esteemed are dark iron-grey, with white breast. This is the
colour of Oscar. They are, however, to be found of a yellowish or sandy
hue, brindled, and even white. In former times, as will be seen from Lord
Falkland’s letter quoted above, this latter colour was by many preferred.
One of the most remarkable facts respecting the size of this dog, is the
great disparity which exists between the sizes of the male and female of
the breed, many of the latter being very diminutive, while their male
offspring invariably attain the full stature of its race. Why will not
some of our Irish gentlemen and sportsmen turn their attention to this
splendid breed of dogs, and seek to prevent, ere it be too late, its
total extirpation?
Now, readers, there may be some among you who have thought my paper
somewhat dry and prosy; and in case you should forget the many times
I have amused you before, and cast me forth altogether from your good
graces, I shall conclude with an authentic statement of how the last
wolves existing in the county Tyrone were destroyed by means of the
Irish greyhound; my account is taken from a biography of a Tyrone family
published in Belfast in 1829. I thus venture to abridge the note to page
74.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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