rilE COVSTKY. 



I2g 



but always treated him wiih marked civility on meeting him afterwards. 

 At'ter all, one can hardly hcl[) feeling a sort of sneaking sympathy with these 

 poor navvies in their love of a bit of t"ur or feather, though we must condemn 

 the illegitimate manner in which, by net and snare, they take the game 

 preserved at great ex[iense by the rightful proprietors for their own sport. 

 We beaglers are neither poachers nor pot-hunters, as, although on sufferance, 

 we are fortunate in having the cordial consent of the landowners and farmers 

 to hunt over their land. 



increase ot population. 



'■ I''o:" if we meet in the city, we shall be do^jM witli companj-, and onr devices known." 



Midsiiiinncr Night's Dream, act i, scene ■?. 



In addition to the extension of the railway and canal systems in Wirral, 

 the variation in conditions adverse to hunting during the past fifty years may 

 be noted in the enormous increase of population, with the concurrent cover- 

 ing of the land with houses for the accommodation of the same. 



The total acreage of Wirral is 59,912 acres. The following table will 

 show the differences of population in the various districts, from the census of 

 1841 and that of 1891. 



OF WIRRAL. 



Southern Wirral. 

 18 

 Kiiesmere Port and Whitby S39 



Lillle Sutton 426 



Great Sutton . 



Moilington, Backford, &c 



Stoke and Stanney 



Netlierpool and Overpool... 

 Capenhurst and I.edsham... 

 llootonand Childer Thorn- 

 ton 



Willaston 



Shotwick and Puddington... 



Purton 



Ness 



Neston 



Total 7^588 1 4.93 7 



Total population of Wirral 33.67S 171,159 



It will be seen from this table that the population of the northern portion of 

 Wirral has increased sixfold, while that of the southern portion has merely 

 doubled itself. The increase may be noted as chiefly occurring in the 

 Wallasey peninsula, Birkenhead, Tranmere, and along the line of railway to 

 Hooton ; also in Hoylake, West Kirby and Heswall, which have quite 

 recently developed as residential localities. In the southern end of the 



