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14
exception of that for 1894 (29.6), the lowest rate
recorded during the eleven years 1886-96.
BIRTHS OF ILLEGITIMATES.
During the year 119 births of illegitimate children
were registered in Paddington, or 4.03 for each
100 legitimate births, and equal to a rate of 0.94 per
1,000 of the estimated population. Last year's total
compares well with the decennial average, 146, as
also does the illegitimate birth-rate (0.94) with the
decennial mean rate (1.24). It will be seen on
referring to Table 5 that the legitimate birth-rate for
1896 compares much better with the decennial mean
(legitimate) rate, than does the total birth-rate for
1896 with the decennial mean (total) rate, as set
forth in Table 4. Thus, the legitimate birth-rate for
1896, 23.3, is seventh in order in Table 5, having
been exceeded in the years, 1886, 1887. 1889, 1891,
1892, and 1893, and equalled in 1888 and 1895,
whilst it is in excess of the rates for 1890 and 1894.
The difference between last year's legitimate
birth-rate (23.3) and the legitimate mean rate (23'5)
is equivalent to a reduction of 1 per cent, whilst the
corresponding shrinkage in the illegitimate rates,
(from 1.24 to 0.94) is equivalent to a reduction of 25
per cent.
The fluctuations in the rate for illegitimates, in
the absence of all information as to parentage, &c., is
inexplicable, It must suffice for the present to