BIRTHS, REGISTRATION or, as also that of buriallt and marriages (q.v.), is regulated by the 6 and 7 Will. IV. c. 86, amended by the 7 Will. IV. and 1 Vict. c. 82, by which a general register-office for the whole of England is established. The registrar-general shall, under the act, furnish a sufficient number of strong iron-boxes to hold the register books, and every such box shall he furnished with a lock and two keys, one of which shall lie kept by the registrar, and the other by the superintendent-registrar; and while the register-books are not in use, they are to be kept in the register-box. which shall always be kept locked. The form for general registration of births, comprises the time of birth, name and sex of the child; the name, surname, maiden surname, and profes sion of Lbe parents; the signature, description, and residence of the informant, (who must Is' the Caber or mother, or in case of' their inability, the occupier of the house. a. 20); the date of registration and signature of the registrar; and also the child's baptismal name (if any he given after registration, within six months). Searches may lie made, and certified copies obtained, at the general registrar-office, or at the office of the super intendent-regis•ar of the district, or from the clergyman, or registrar, or any other per son who shall for the time being have the keeping of the register-hooks. By 3 and 4 Viet. c. 92, provision is made for depositiug with the registrar-general a number of non parochial registers and records of births, baptisms, deaths, burials, and marriages. which bad been collected by a commission appointed for that purpose, and for rendering such registers and records available as evidence. For other regulations on the subject Of this
article, sec 21 Vict. c. 25.
The Scotch law relating to the registration of births commenced with 17 and 18 Viet. c. 80, by which a registrar-general. parochial registrars. and other officers arc appointed with suitable machinery for carrying out the provisions of the act. It is the duty of the local registrar to ascertain and register all births within his parish or district, without fee or reward, Wive as provided by the act; but parents, or persons in charge of children otter their birth. arc required to give information of such births, and to sign the register; and after the expiration of three months following the day of birth, it shall not be lawful for the registrar to register the same, except as provided by the net. The act declares that the sheriff of the county shall have the care and superintendence of the parochial registrars: and, as in England, the registrar-general is directed to furnish strong iron boxes to hold the registers and other documents, such box to have a leek with two keys. one of which shall be kept by the registrar, and the other by the sheriff. The 86th section contains the noticeable provision, that in the case of children legitimated by subsequent marriage of the parents, but wilt) were originally registered as illegitimate, such registration shall he corrected by an entry of the marriage on the margin. The act contains other provis ions, more or less corresponding to the enactments of the above English statutes, and Les been untended by the acts 18 and 19 Vice c. 29; 19 and 20 Viet. c. 96; and 22 and 24 V ict. c. 8.1