BELISAMA OF PTOLEMY. 383 
part, if not Wirral itself, remained an island less 
than four hundred years back, may be gathered 
from Harrison, who details his journey in these 
parts, in the early part of the sixteenth century. 
I quote from an extract in Baines’ Lancashire, he 
says, “‘tyll we be past Wyrall, out of Leirpoole 
Haven, and the blacke rocks, that lye upon the 
north point of the aforesayd island.”—p. 92.* 
I cannot find that either of the etymons of 
Wirral, has any signification relating to an insu- 
lar position: Baxter, derives the word from the 
British “ Uidr hal, quod est aqua cerulea salsa.” 
The prefix is derived by some from Wire, a 
wood, in Anglo-Saxon, which at least is more sig- 
nificative of its former condition ; for it was, at 
the earliest times, covered with wood, and at 
length formed into a forest by the third earl of 
Chester, but was disafforested in the reign of 
Edward the third. Birket, Birkenhead, and 
Woodside, are all names denoting its former 
wooded condition. 
* He further says, in speaking of the district rivers, 
“Yrke, Irwell, Medlock, and Tame, 
When they meet with the Mersey, lose their name.” 
And, “ Finally, our Mersey goying to Moulton, it falleth 
into Lierpoole Haven, when it is past Runcorne.” 
