MERCURY
—was the name of a horse, that, as a RACER, and afterwards a STALLION, stood very high in sporting estimation. He was bred by the late Colonel O'Kelly; foaled in 1778; was got by Eclipse out of a Tartar mare, who was likewise the dam of Whitenose, Maria, Antiochus, Venus, Jupiter, Adonis, Lilly of the Valley, Volunteer, Bonnyface, and Queen Mab. After having acquired considerable celebrity as a good runner, and proved himself equal to any horse of his time, he became a favourite STALLION in the possession of Lord Egremont, where he has produced a numerous progeny, including a very great number of winners, many of much note; and amongst the rest, the following celebrated horses, some of whom are stallions in high reputation: Calomel, Sublimate, Hippolyta, Mercutio, Old Gold, Precipitate, Quicksilver, Young Mercutio, Felix, Cinnabar, Mother Bunch, Hermes, Pill Box, Silver, Transit, Gohanna, Caustic, Stadholder, Buckingham, &c. &c.
MESHES
—are the vacancies in all kinds of NET-WORK, of which there are various sorts, with their meshes of different dimensions; as the gate-net, flue-net, tunnel-net, drawing-net, casting-net, &c. &c. as adapted to their distinct uses, for taking either FISH or FOWL.
MEUSE
—is the opening at the bottom of quick-set and other hedges, as well as in the bushy underwood of COVERTS, through which HARES take their track, when going to, or coming from, FEED during the night. At these meuses the expert and experienced POACHER fixes his wires (commonly called snares) with so much security, and confidence of success, that he generally insures a tolerable proportion to his own share, according to the stock of the country.
MEWING
—is an old forest term for a STAG'S shedding his horns.
MEWS
—is a receptacle for horses and carriages, appropriated to no other use whatever. The buildings consist of stables and coach-houses only, with conveniencies above for the residence of coachmen and their families. In all the newly-erected squares and streets at the western extremity of the Metropolis, most of the houses are so constructed, that the master and servants have access to the stables by a communication at the back of the dwelling-house, without the inconvenience of passing through the streets.