AL'ATER'NUS (Lat.). A genus of plants of the natural order Rhamnaceæ, akin to Rham- nus (see Buckthorn), but more generally re- garded as a sub-genus of Rhamnus. It consists of evergreen shrubs, of which the best known is Alaternus phillyrea or Rhamnus alaternus, a large shrub, densely branched, with shining al- ternate, more or less ovate, leaves. The flowers are dicecious, racemed, numerous, and small, nnioh sought after by bees. This shrub is abun- dant in Europe. The berries partake of the pur- gative qualities attributed to Rhamnus cathar- tica.
ALATRI, a-lil'tre. An episcopal city in south
Italy, nine miles north of Frosimme (Map: Italy,
HO). The Cyclopean gateway and walls of the
ancient aletrium are splendidly preserved. It
has many cloth factories. Pop., 1881, 5500.
ALATYR, ii'la-ter'. The chief town of a dis-
trict iu the government of Simbirsk. Russia, on
the Sura, 107 miles northwest of Simbirsk (Map:
Russia, G 4|. It has two cathedrals, four mon-
asteries, a hospital, schools, etc. Milling, brew-
ing, and brick-making are the principal indus-
tries. Pop., 1897, 11,100. It was founded in
1552 by Ivan the Terrible.
ALAUSÍ, ii'lou-sc'. A town on the Alausí River, in the province of Chimborazo. Ecuador, 75 miles east of Guayaquil (Map: Ecuador. B 4). It is situated on a plateau of the Andes, in a fertile region, abounding in hot springs. Pop., 6000.
ALAUX,:'t,'. Jean, called le Romain (1786-1864). A French historical painter, born at Bordeaux. He was a pupil of Vincent and Guérin, and in 1815 won the Grand Prix de Rome. He was director of the French Academy at Rome from 1846 to 1853, and in 1851 was elected a member of the Institute. His works include "Pandora Brought from Heaven by Mercury" (Palace of St. Cloud. destroyed 1870), "Burial of Our Lord" (Notre Dame de Loretto, Paris), and twenty-nine canvases in the museum of Versailles.
ALAVA, a'la-va, Don Miguel Ricardo de
(1771-184.3). A Spanish general. He was born
at Vittoria, Spain, and died at Barèges, France.
Sprung from a noble family, he entered the navy
in early life, but changed later to the land service. His political conscience was as flexible as his political career was checkered. He abandoned Ferdinand VII. for the French in 1808; left the French for the English, in 1811, and entered once more into the service of Ferdinand, in 1815, as minister to The Hague. In 1820, he was leader of the Liberals in the Cortes; in 1822 he fought against Ferdinand's guards at Madrid, and the next year he negotiated with the Duc d'Angoulême for the restoration of Ferdinand to his throne. Fearing Ferdinand's vengeance, however. Alava fled the country. From his exile in England he was recalled by Maria Christina, who made him ambassador, first to London, in 1834, and, in 1835, to Paris. The following year he refused to swear to the constitution of 1812. reëstablished by the insurrection of La Granja, and retired to France.
ALAY, a-li'. A Turkish ceremony on the
assembling of the forces at the breaking out of
a war, the chief feature of which is a public
display of the sacred standard of Mohammed,
which may be looked upon only by Moslems and
touched only by emirs. It is a capital offense
for a Christian to look upon the banner.
ALB. See Costume, Ecclesiastical.
ALBA, iil'ba (ancient Lat. Alba Pompeia, White Pompeia). An episcopal city of north Italy, situated on the right bank of the Tanaro, 31 miles southeast of Turin (Map: Italy, C 3). The vast Gothic cathedral dates from 1486, and there are rich collections of ancient manuscripts, coins, vases, and household utensils. The country produces wine, grain, cattle, silk, truffles, and cheese. Pop., 1881, 6900.
ALBA, al'ba. See Alva.
ALBACETE, iil'ba-tha'ta. A town of Spain,
capital of the province of the same name, in
Murcia. It is situated an altitude of more
than 3800 feet; 138 miles southeast of Madrid,
and on the railway which runs from Madrid to
Alicante (Map: Spain, E .3). It stands in a
fertile but treeless plain; consists of an upper
and a lower town, the latter of which, being mod-
ern, is built with some degree of regularity, and
contains a number of squares and many good
houses. It is a place of considerable trade, and
is noted in Spain for the manufacture of knives
and other steel goods. Annual cattle fairs are
held here. Pop.. 1887, 20,700; 1900, 21,373.
AL'BACORE, or AL'BICORE (Portug. and
Sp. albacnra, from Ar. al, the + bakr, a young
camel, a heifer). A tunny, especially the long-
finned, or alalonga. See Tunny.
AL'BA LON'GA. An ancient town of
Latium, founded, according to the popular ac-
count (Livy i: 3), by Ascanius, son of Æneas,
on a ridge overlooking the Alban Lake. Here
lived several generations of kings, and here were
born the twins Romulus and Remus, sons of the
King's daughter, Rhea Silvia, by the god Mars.
Alba Longa was destroyed under Tullus Hos-
tilius, third king of Rome, and never rebuilt,
its inhabitants being removed to Rome. The
legend, in its general outline, is doubtless based
on facts. In 1817 a remarkable pre-historic ne-
cropolis was found here, buried under volcanic
ashes, and containing burial-urns in the form of
round huts. (See Archæology.) The site of
the town seems to have been near the modern
Castel Gandolfo. The Emperor Domitian had a
villa here.
ALBAN, .al'bon. Saint. According to legend,
the first martyr of Britain. He was born at
Verulam in the third century, and after having
long lived as a heathen, was converted to Chris-
tianity, but put to death in 304. His day is
June 22. The town of St. Albans, which bears
his name, is believed to stand on the site of his
birthplace or the scene of his martyrdom. See St. Albans.
ALBA'NI. In ancient times, a people in Asia
inhabiting the country between the Caucasus
and the Cyrus River, and between Armenia and
the Caspian Sea. corresponding with the modern
Daghestan, Shirvan, and Laghistan. The an-
cient Albanians were described as tall, strong,
and of graceful appearance. They were nomads.
A Roman army under Pompey first encountered
them in 65 B.C and found a force of 60.000 in-
fantry and 22.000 cavalry opposing it. Pompey
secured a nominal submission, but they continued
practically independent.
ALBANI, al-ba'ne. A rich and celebrated
