MARSK—was a horse whose distinguished celebrity arose more from chance than any peculiar merits of his own. He was bred by the then DUKE of CUMBERLAND; was foaled in 1750; got by _Squirt_, (who was got by Bartlet's _Childers_;) dam by _Blacklegs_, grand-dam by _Fox Cub_. Although his blood and racing ability stood fairly admitted, yet, so far from having acquired any reputation as a STALLION, he was permitted to COVER common mares at the Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, for only _half-a-guinea_, which was the GROOM'S FEE. Precisely at this period (in the year 1763) _Spilletta_, the dam of _Eclipse_, having proved _barren_ for two or three years in succession, a new experiment was made, and she was covered by both _Shakespeare_ and _Marsk_ in the same season; when stinted, and some time after perceptibly in foal, it was uncertain who was to be declared the SIRE, till the produce falling to correspond with the last leap from _Marsk_, he became (from _Eclipse's_ astonishing powers) loaded with honours, publicly acknowledged the sire with an enhanced reputation, and a constantly increasing _seraglio_; from which time he continued a stallion of the first eminence, and produced a progeny of winners by much too long for introduction under this head. _Spilletta_ afterwards produced _Proserpine_ by _Marsk_, foaled in 1766; and that well-known horse _Garrick_, foaled in 1772; both excellent runners. MARTIN, OR MARTERN,—is an animal inhabiting woods and bushy coverts, rather inferior in size to a domestic cat, but longer in the neck and body, having a head and tail corresponding in make and shape with the FOX, but not so sharp-pointed in the ears. They are nearly as expert in climbing trees, and leaping from one to another, as a squirrel; they breed in the hollows of trees, and produce four, five, and even six, young at a time. They live upon poultry, game, and birds: most probably the casual food of the FOX is taken by the MARTIN also. As, by their great agility in climbing, they become a most destructive enemy to PHEASANTS, so by their SCENT they are frequently the subject of much mortifying disappointment to a field of expectant sportsmen. When found amidst the bushes, the general burst of the finding hounds is as great as when a FOX is _unkenneled_, and so continues, till, being closely pressed, some friendly tree (probably clothed with ivy) suddenly terminates the _deceptive_ chase.