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ALATERNUS. AL'ATER'NUS (Lat.). A genus of plants of the natural order Rhamnaceæ, akin to Rham- nus (see ), 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,'. , called (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.

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.

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.

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 .) The site of the town seems to have been near the modern Castel Gandolfo. The Emperor Domitian had a villa here.

ALBAN, .al'bon. . 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.

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