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MASK MASON 239 wife. Being afraid of the influence of Has- drubal's daughter over her new consort, Scipio severely reprimanded Masinissa, and asked the surrender of the Carthaginian woman as a cap- tive of Eome. Unable or unwilling, at the risk of his power, to defend the freedom of his wife, Masinissa saved her from the ignominy of Eoman captivity by sending her a cup of poison, which she drank without hesitation. Syphax was sent to Italy, where shortly after he died. In spite of his tragic loss, Masinissa from ambition persisted in his fidelity to Eome, and his aid contributed not a little to the issue of the battle of . Zama (202), in which he com- manded the cavalry on the right wing of Sci- pio's army, and which terminated with the rout of Hannibal. Peace was concluded soon after (201), and Masinissa was rewarded by the victors with a part of the territories of Syphax. He reigned in peace for 50 years, developing the resources of his kingdom by the promotion of agriculture, and extending its limits by an- nexations from the possessions of Carthage, which were approved of by the senate of Eome, and in consequence of which a few years be- fore his death he once more entered the field of battle, when over 90 years old. His defeat of the Carthaginians made it easier for the Eomans subsequently to conquer them; and the last Punic war commenced soon after, in the second year of which Masinissa died, leav- ing his possessions to be divided by Scipio among his three legitimate sons Micipsa, Gu- lussa, and Mastanabal, with rich donations to their very numerous illegitimate brothers. MASK, Iron. See IRON MASK. MASKELL, William, an English clergyman, born in Bath in 1814. He graduated at Uni- versity college, Oxford, in 1836, took orders in 1837, and became rector of Corscombe, Dor- set, in 1842, chaplain to the bishop of Exeter in 1846, and vicar of St. Mary's, Devon, in 1847. In 1849, the "Gorham case" having been decided against Mr. Maskell's views, he resigned his preferments, and, after an anima- ted correspondence with the archbishop of Canterbury, became a Eoman Catholic. His principal works are: " Ancient Liturgy of the Church of England " (1844) ; Monumenta Ri- tualia EcclesicB Anglicance (3 vols., 1846-'7) ; "Dissertation on Holy Baptism" (1848); " Letter on the Temporal Power of the Pope and his Personal Infallibility" (1869); and " Odds and Ends " (stories, &c., 1872). MASKEL1NE, Nevil, an English astronomer, born in London, Oct. 6, 1732, died at Green- wich, Feb. 9, 1811. He graduated at Cam- bridge in 1754, took orders, officiated for some time as curate, and obtained a fellowship in 1756. In 1758 he became a fellow of the royal society, and in 1761 was sent to St. Helena to observe the transit of Venus. Soon after re- turning he was sent out to Barbadoes on board the Princess Louisa, to test the merits of Har- rison's new chronometers and Irvine's marine chair. In 1765 he became astronomer royal at 537 VOL. XL 16 Greenwich. In 1772 he went to Scotland to determine the mean density of the earth by observing the effect of the mountain Schehal- lien upon the plumb line. He superintended the "Nautical Almanac," established at his suggestion, from 1767 till his death. He was the first to publish what is termed " a stand- ard catalogue of stars." MASKINOME, a S. W. county of Quebec, Canada, bounded S. E. by Lake St. Peter, an expansion of the St. Lawrence river ; area, 3,221 sq. in. ; pop. in 1871, 15,079, of whom 14,782 were of French origin or descent. It is drained in the N. "W. by the Gatineau and Du Lievre rivers, and in the S. E. by the Mas- kinong6 and Du Loup rivers and other streams. Capital, Eiviere du Loup. MASON, the name of six counties in the Uni- ted States. I. A "W. county of West Virginia, bounded N. and W. by the Ohio river, and drained by the Great Kanawha and its tribu- taries; area, 300 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 15,978, of whom 534 were colored. It has a diversi- fied surface and fertile soil, and contains iron ore, coal, and valuable salt springs. The chief productions in 1870 were 115,350 bushels of wheat, 456,990 of Indian corn, 43,464 of oats, 84,534 of potatoes, 58,600 Ibs. of tobacco, 22,- 853 of wool, and 4,353 tons of hay. There were 2,563 horses, 2,332 milch cows, 5,183 other cattle, 9,880 sheep, and 9,879 swine. Capital, Point Pleasant. II. A W. central county of Texas, intersected by the Eio Llano, a branch of the Colorado, and watered by afflu- ents of the Llano and the San Saba; area, 910 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 678, of whom 26 were colored. About one tenth of the surface is prairie, and the rest timbered. Two thirds is suitable for farming. Stock raising is the principal business. The chief productions in 1870 were 7,740 bushels of Indian corn, 593 of sweet potatoes, 5,510 Ibs. of wool, 6,945 of butter, and 141 tons of hay. There were 183 horses, 19,703 cattle, 1,943. sheep, and 2,329 swine. Capital, Mason. III. A K E. county of Kentucky, bordering on the Ohio river, in- tersected by the N. fork of Licking river, and drained by Limestone and Lee's creeks ; area, 236 sq. HI. ; pop. in 1870, 18,126, of whom 3,582 were colored. The surface is diversified, hilly toward the north, and the soil fertile. The chief productions in 1870 were 72,850 bushels of wheat, 54,450 of rye, 765,000 of Indian corn, 45,076 of oats, 42,140 of barley, 41,731 of potatoes, 1,593,156 Ibs. of tobacco, 19,178 of wool, 106,329 of butter, and 4,744 tons of hay. There were 4,132 horses, 1,361 mules and asses, 2,598 milch cows, 5,221 oth- er cattle, 5,659 sheep, and 18,202 swine; 2 manufactories of agricultural implements, 9 of carriages and wagons, 1 of cotton goods, 2 of woollen goods, 2 breweries, and 2 saw mills. Capital, Maysville. IV. A central county of Illinois, bounded K W. by the Illinois and S. by the Sangamon rivers ; area, 580 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 16,184. The surface is low, and