SEBACEOUS GLANDS 319 SEBASTOPOL effective teeth constitute its chief resem- blance to a wolf. SEBACEOUS GLANDS, glands having small ducts which open within the mouth of hair follicles and supply them with sebaceous matter. The largest are on the sides of the nose. SEBACIC ACID, in chemistry, POTTO CgHic <qqjjq pyroleic acid or sebic acid; an acid of the oxalic series, obtained from fats containinig oleic acid by dry distilla- tion or action of nitric acid, and from castor oil by heating with potash. It crystallizes in white very light needles, has an acid taste, melts at 127°, and dis- solves easily in hot water, alcohol, and ether. It forms acid and neutral salts, which are mostly soluble in water, and crystallizable. SEBAGO LAKE, a lake in Cumberland co., Me.; about 18 miles N. W. of Port- land, with which it is connected by the Cumberland and Oxford canal; outlet in Casco bay; length, 12 miles; width, 8 miles. SEBASTES, in ichthyology, a genus of Scorpsenoidse, with about 20 species, widely distributed in temperate seas. In general appearance they resemble the Sea Perches, and are esteemed as food. SEBASTIAN, DOM, King of Portugal; born in Lisbon in 1554; ascended the throne at three years of age, on the death of his grandfather, John III. Possessed of a romantic and venturesome disposi- tion, he determined to carry on war against the Moors in Africa, hoping thereby to effect something for Christian- ity and the fame of Portugal. He ac- cordingly equipped a fleet and an army, which comprised the flower of the Portu- guese nobility, and sailed for Africa in 1578, at the age of 23 years. A general engagement soon took place at Alcacer-el- Xebir, and the ardor of the young king bore him into the midst of the enemy. Though Sebastian fought with the most determined bravery, so complete was the slaughter that not more than 50 Portu- guese are said to have survived. Sebas- tian disappeared. The mystery surround- ing his fate led several adventurers to assume his person, but there seems to be no doubt that he died on the field of bat- tle. His death is supposed to have oc- curred August 4, 1578. SEBASTOPOL or SEVASTOPOL, a fortified town and seaport of European Russia, on the W. coast of the Crimea. It stands on a creek on the S. side of one of the finest bays in the world, the Etenus of Strabo, which is defended by strong forts on both sides. In 1853 Russia de- manded from the Turkish Government guarantees for the rights of the Greek Christians of Turkey, which the Porte believed to involve an actual abdication of its sovereign rights, and which it therefore refused to concede. This led, in the same year, to the beginning of the Eastern or Crimean War, in which France, England and Sardinia took sides with Turkey, on the ground that the ex- istence of the latter empire, and the equi- librium of political power in Europe, were endangered by Russia. The armies of the allies effected a landing at the Bay of Eupatoria, Sept. 14, 1854. On their south- ern march toward Sebastopol they encoun- tered the Russian forces, commanded by Prince Menzikoff, on the banks of the Alma. A bloody battle was fought (Sept. 20), in which the Russians were com- pelled to retreat. On Sept. 25 the Brit- ish forces seized Balaklava, and on Oct. 9 the regular siege of the southern portion of Sebastopol commenced, the Russians having sunk vessels in the entrance to the harbor and thus rendered the city unas- sailable by maritime force. On Oct. 25 and Nov. 5, the Russians vainly attempt- ed to annihilate the besieging forces in the battles of Balaklava and Inkermann, but afterward confined themselves mainly to the defensive, though making frequent sorties. Among these conflicts some as- sumed almost the character of regular field battles; for instance, an unsuccess- ful attack of the French on a new redoubt (Feb. 23, 1855), their first assault on the Malakoff and Redan (June 18), and the battle of the Tchernaya (Aug. 16), in which the Russians, numbering 50,000 in- fantry and 6,000 cavalry, made a last ef- fort to break the aggressive force of the enemy. The trenches having been driven so near the Russian defensive works that another assault could not be ventured, the final bombardment was opened Sept. 5, and lasted for three days. On Sept. 8 the Malakoff and Redan were stormed and taken by the allies after a desperate struggle. The Russians, after having blown up their extensive fortifications on the S. shore of the harbor, retreated to the N. side, which the allies never seri- ously attempted to conquer. The latter, having destroyed the costly docks, arse- nals, and shipyards of Sebastopol, re- mained inactive in their camps, and, with the exception of the capture and sack of Kertch, on the Strait of Yenikale, no fur- ther feats of arms were accomplished. The forces of the allies were withdrawn in the summer and autumn of 1856. Though the allies did not obtain any de- cided success, Russia suffered immense loss of military prestige, and any further aggression on her part in S. Europe was for a time prevented. By the peace of
