We are not yet sufficiently informed to be able to enumerate, without exception, what animals possessed the earth with man in these countries during the historic period; but careful researchs have enabled us to advance the question a few steps nearer to the solution.

That he used the inferior animals at an early period for food and clothing is certain; and, as tillage was little understood and less practiced during the paucity of population, animals were used for food in large numbers. In some extensive districts in South America, flesh was the traveller's only food, almost without a single specimen of vegetable food, even by way of variety.

Hence, whenever we find traces of human habitation, we may expect to find bones, horn, teeth, etc; and in some instances, as at Richborough, the remains are peculiar, as we trace Romans by their mounds of oyster-shells.

Animal remains are found in two conditions -- in a natural state, and, manufactured; and not infrequently they are found in both these conditions at any one place.

In the natural state

In recording what has been found in the locality of Meols, on the coast of Cheshire, it will not be necessary to do more than to arrange in catalogue form the remains, which came to light in the 17 and 1800's. We must premise that the general fauna differs in no important respect from that of any neighbouring district; and also that it was thought necessary to notice here the remains of such creatures as have been brought into immediate contact with our own species.

1. Man. (Homo sapiens.)-- As these had been more carefully deposited than the remains of inferior animals, so they were of less frequent occurrence; but skeletons in whole or in part are occasionally found, not at the site of the ancient burying- ground, but protruding from the black earth.
2. The Irish elk. (Megacerus Hibernicus.) -- It was not known on what authority the remains of this creature have been identified, but it was said that a Mr Smith observed that fact.
4. Red Deer. (Cervus elaphus.) -- This animal was formally abuntant in England during the Tudor period having been hunted down for sport and consumption, it now exists in small numbers in the Highlands of Scotland close to its natural habitat. It was the principal object of the chase in Ireland in ancient times, but was almost unknown there during the 18th century. Very fine antlers, dug up in the neighbourhood had been in the possession of the then keeper of Leasowe Castle, Cheshire, General the Hon. Sir Edward Cust.
5. Roe Buck. (Cervus capriolus.) -- This animal is supposed to be of a later introduction, if actually introduced from other lands; for from a certain date it became known, and since that time the red deer had diminished in numbers.
6. Fallow Deer. (Cervus dama.) -- This animal is mentioned to allow the opportunity of saying that, so far as I am aware, its remains have not been found.
8. (Bos primigenius.) -- The horns and skull of this animal was once in the local museum, one or two others have been found in Wallasey (Cheshire). It is supposed that the animal was in all probability identified with a race of cattle spoken of by Caesar, which was not much inferior to the elephant in size, and differed from all other domestic cattle by the great strength and expansion of its horns, being some five feet in width.
10. (Bos longifrons.) -- This animal, like the preceding one, is extinct; but there can be no doubt that it existed within historic times, ie. at the period of the Romans.
11. Wild Boar. (Sus scrofa.) -- The tusks of this animal are abundant near many Roman stations; and in the reigns of our early Plantagenet kings it range the woods of England in large numbers.
13. The Horse. (Equus caballus.) -- The ancient Britons knew this animal, as it drew the war-chariots of the monarchs who apposed the invasion of the Romans. From the remains found on the Cheshire shore, near Hilbre island, it had been inferred that the local horse of other days was small, and akin the modern pony. The various facts lead us to the inference, as (1) that many of our native breeds were and are still small, as the shelty (Shetland pony), raghery (Rathlan pony), and hobby (ancient Irish horse); (2) that the size of the chariot is that adapted to small animals, e.g., the Roman wheel in Shrewsbury Museum; (3) that the same fact is shown in ancient illustrations on comparing the size of men and horses. It is well known that the horse of the Anglo-Saxon's were all of very small stature as illustrated by the size of a wavy rimmed shoe that I unearthed some 6 years ago near Whitchurch, Shropshire. The location, until recent times, sported an Anglo-Saxon church; it fell into ruin and was demolished only to have a wooden one take its place.
15. The Dog. (Canis familiaris) -- The remains of this animal were of frequent occurrence.
    The Wolf. (Canis Lupus).) --The remains were of frequent occurrence, showing that the animal abounded in the Cheshire forests.
    The Sheep. (Ovis aries.) -- Extensive remains, showing farming of this animal.
    (Cetacean), Rib of this was found in excavations of what was Wallasey Pool, now domesticated and industrial area. The bones of these were frequently found, but it is difficult to say whether the ancient inhabitants of the seashore used them as food, or whether they are the remains of those, which were destroyed in the usual way in more recent times.