MARK!—a term used by SPORTSMEN, particularly in COVERT SHOOTING, where they are necessarily separated from each other; when one of the party, having _sprung_ a PHEASANT, or _flushed_ a COCK, (at which he either did not get a _shot_, or missed his _aim_,) he then vociferates the signal, MARK! in a hope his companion may get a shot, or _mark_ the spot near where he alights, to insure a better chance of his recovery. It is also used in partridge shooting, where hedges or hedge-rows interrupt the sight, or divide the parties.
MARK IN THE MOUTH.—The black cavity in the TEETH of a HORSE, by which his age is correctly known till seven years old, is called the _mark_; when which is obliterated, the age can be no longer precisely ascertained. DEALERS adopt a successful mode of _deception_, by which the young and inexperienced are frequently imposed upon. See BISHOPING and COLT.
MARK ANTHONY,—the name of a horse of some celebrity as a RACER, and equal to any horse of his time: he was bred by MR. C. BLAKE, and foaled in 1767: he was got by that known good horse _Spectator_ (who was got by _Crab_) out of _Rachel_, (who was got by _Blank_;) her dam by _Regulus_, grand-dam by _Soreheels_. He acquired some reputation as a STALLION, and was the sire of several good runners.
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.