508 SABINES SACCHINI Boston. He has published a " Life of Commo- dore Preble" (1847); "Biographical Sketches of the Loyalists of the American Revolution " (1847; enlarged ed., 2 vols. 8vo, 1864) ; a "Re- port on American Fisheries" (1853); "Notes on Duels and Duelling" (1855); and an "Ad- dress on the One Hundredth Anniversary of the Death of Gen. Wolfe " (1859). SABINES, an ancient people of Italy, em- bracing a large number of tribes conspicuous in the legends and history of Rome. They formed three principal groups: the Sabines S'opor; the Sabelli, divided into Vestini, arsi, Marrucini, Peligni, Frentani, and Hir- pini; and the Samnites. They were migra- tory, and early spre'ad over the central and southern regions of the peninsula. They were renowned for bravery, rustic simplicity of manners, love of freedom, and religious char- acter. In peace they were ruled by republican magistrates, in times of war by sovereign com- manders, called by the Roman historians dic- tators or kings. The Sabines proper, the least warlike of all, inhabited a mountainous dis- trict in the central Apennines, between the rivers Tiber, Nar (now Nera), and Anio (Te- verone), and surrounded by Latium, Etruria, Umbria, Picenum, and the territories of the Sabellians and Samnites. Their principal towns were Amiternum on the Aternus (Pescara), Cures, the birthplace of Numa Pompilius, Reate (Rieti) on the Nar, Nursia (Norcia), and Nomentum. The Sabines formed one of the constituent elements of the Roman people, a portion of them having become incorporated, according to the legend, with the subjects of Romulus on the termination of the war waged to revenge the rape of the Sabine women by the Roman youths. The remainder of the people continued independent, but early in the 3d century B. C. received the full Roman fran- chise and were finally merged in the republic. SABLE, a carnivorous animal of the weasel family, and genus mustela (Linn.), of which the generic characters have been given under FISHER; it is the M. zibellina (Linn.). In size Sable (Mustela zibellina). it is about equal to the pine marten (see MAR- TEN), and its color in summer is brownish, with white spots on the head and grayish neck ; in winter it is much darker, though not so dark as to justify the use of its name as an epithet signifying deep blackness. The feet are hairy to the toes, indicating its residence to be a snow-covered region ; it inhabits the frozen mountains of European and Asiatic Russia, where its chase is attended by great hardships on account of the severity of the climate and the barren nature of the country. The dark winter fur is highly esteemed, and forms an important article of commerce to the Rus- sians; considerable numbers are carried to Russia and western Europe, where they bring almost fabulous prices, a single skin being worth from $20 to $60 ; the hairs are so soft that they will lie any way in which they are placed. It lives principally in trees, lying con- cealed during the day and hunting by night ; it will destroy a hare, though larger than it- self, and kills ermines and other small weasels ; it may be tamed, and is very docile if taken young. It is by some regarded as a variety of the pine marten (M. martes, Linn.) ; but, though not uncommon, enough specimens do not exist in museums to determine the ques- tion. It has from three to five young, late in March or early in April. The American sable is the American pine marten ( if. Americana). SABLE ISLAND (Fr. sable, sand), a low island in the Atlantic ocean, about 100 m. 8. E. of Nova Scotia, to which it belongs ; length about 25 m., breadth from 1 to 5 m. It consists of two nearly parallel ridges of sand joined at the ends, which enclose a lake about 11 m. long and in some places 12 ft. deep. There are two kinds of grass, wild peas, strawberries, cranberries, <fec. The island supports about 500 wild horses, and some horned cattle. There are valuable fisheries in the vicinity. Many fatal shipwrecks have occurred upon Sable island and the sand banks and shoals which surround it. An establishment for the relief of persons thrown upon its shores is supported by the Dominion of Canada. In 1871 the population consisted of five families, comprising 27 persons, connected with this establishment. In 1873 the government estab- lished two lighthouses, one at the W. end (lat. 43 57' N., Ion. 60 8' W.), with a revolving light 123 ft. above the sea, and the other 1-J- m. from the E. end (lat. 43 58' 30", Ion. 59 46'), with a fixed light 128 ft. above the sea. SAC, a W. county of Iowa, watered by Boyer and Coon rivers and other streams; area, 576 sq. m. ; pop. in 1870, 1,411. The surface is rolling and the soil fertile. The chief pro- ductions in 1870 were 37,090 bushels of wheat, 42,267 of Indian corn, 38,831 of oats, and 30,120 Ibs. of butter. Capital, Sac City. SACAPA. See ZACAPA. SA('( VFCK). See SACKATOO. SACCHINI, Antonio Maria Gasparo, an Italian composer, born in Pozzuoli about 1735, died in Paris, Oct. 7, 1786. He was educated un- der Dnrante, produced numerous works in Italy and Germany, and arrived in 1772 in England, where he remained till 1784, when he established himself in Paris. His operas, once famous over Europe, are now scarcely
