war's effect upon edücation and LITERATÜRE 



89 



ILLEGITIMATE BIRTHS DECREASE AND TWINS 

 AND TRIPLETS INCREASE IN WAR ^ 



Table 29 gives the percentages of illegitimate births in Bnglanil, 

 Ireland and Scotland; also the absolute number of twinsand tripleta 

 born iu Scotland, the only división in which these data are accessible. 



TABLE 29. — Percentage of illegitimate hirths 



Peace time 



War time 



Peace time 



3 895. 

 1896. 



1897. 

 1898. 



/ 1899. 



\ 1900. 



I 1901. 



1902. 



1903. 

 1904. 

 1905. 

 1906. 



Englaucl 



4.2 

 4,2 

 4.2 

 4.2 



4.0 

 4.0 

 3.9 

 3.9 



3.9 

 4.0 

 4.0 

 4.0 



2.7 

 2.6 

 2.6 

 2.7 



2.6 

 2.7 

 2.6 

 2.6 



2.6 

 2.5 

 2.6 

 2.6 



Scotland 



7.3 



7.3 

 7.0 

 6.8 



6.5 

 6.5 

 6.3 

 6.3 



6.2 

 6.8 

 6.9 

 7.0 



Scotland 



The percentages of illegitimate births are slightly lower in England 

 and Ireland during the war period than before or after and distinctly 

 lower in Scotland, where the general percentage of illegitimacy is 

 much higher than in England and Ireland. Contrary to popular opin- 

 ión múltiple births are not a favorable sign, for they are not only 

 abnormal, but their death rate is very high, that of triplets being 

 practically one hundred per cent. 



' For births, death, marriage and other vital statistics, see Annual reporta af 

 the Registrar General of each country. 



