Astrologers divide the signs into masculine and feminine, by reason of their qualities, which are either active, hot and cold, accounted masculine; or passive, dry and moist, which are feminine. Upon this principle they call the Sun, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, masculine; and the Moon and Venus feminine. Mercury, they suppose, partakes of both characters. Amongst the signs, Aries, Libra, Gemini, Leo, Sagittarius, and Aquarius, are masculine; Cancer, Capricornus, Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, and Pisces, are feminine.

MASINA, a kingdom of Western Africa, situated to the east and north of Bambara, and to the west of Timbuctoo, upon the northern bank of the Niger. It is inhabited by the Foulahs, who are engaged chiefly in pasture.