Spots

(spotz.) (Ast.) Dark places observed on the sun, moon, and planets. The S. on the sun vary; while those on the moon and planets remain the same,and by their motion make the rotation of those bodies manifest. See SUN. Spottsylvania, (spot-sil-va'ne-ah,) in Virginia, anE. co.; area, 400 sq. m.; C. Spottsylvania Court-House. Pop.17,728. Sprain, (sprān.) (Surg.) A violent stretching of the muscles or tendons ofa joint, but without dislocation. Sprat, (sprat) [Du. sprot.] (Zool.) A small fish of the family Clupeidæ, gen. Harengula; chiefly distinguished from the herring by its serrated belly. The English S. (H. sprattus),called Garvie in Scotland, is very common on the coasts of Northern Europe. Spree, (sprě,) a river of N. Germany, taking its rise in Saxony, and, after forming a junction by canal with theOder, and pa ing Berlin, empties at Spandau into the Havel, after a N.N.W. course of 220 m. Sprengel, KURT, (spraing'gl,) a German botanist and physician, B. in Pomerania, 1766, became profe or of botany at Halle, and D. there in 1833. He was author of the following valuable works: Manual of Pathology; Institutiones Medice; a History of Botany; Pragmatic History of Medicine, and Hist or i a Rei Herbariæ. Spring, (spring.) (From A. S. spring an.] (Calendar.) The season of the year when increasing solar heat restores the energy of vegetation. In the northern hemisphere, it begins when the sun enters Aries, that is, about the 21st of March; and ends at the summer solstice.-(Mech.) A thin piece of tempered steel, or other elastic substance; which being wound up, serves to put several machines in motion by its elasticity; such is the S. of a clock, watch, . (Phys. Geog.) A fountain of water, or i ue of water from the earth, or the basin of water at the place of its i ue. From S. proceed rivulets, and rivulets united form rivers. Rain penetrates the ground,and oozes into and through cer54 5G tain strata, but being obstructed by other strata, it forms cavities and subterraneous reservoirs at various depths, many of which, when full, force their way out of the ground, and constitute springs. (Mech.) An apparatus, consisting of a spiral, indexed, and pointed spring; used in resolving the weight of bodies. Beauty. (Bot.) See CLAYTONIA. (Zool.) Seo ELATE RIDE. (spring'ur,) or SPRING'ING. (Arch.) The bottom stone of an arch, or that one which lies right above the impost. Also, the point of junction of an arch with its support. (spring'feld,) in Illinois, a fine and flourishing city, C. of the State, and justice-seat of Sangamon co., near the Sangamon River, 97 m. N.N.E. of St. Louis. This is a well-built place, and has been styled the Flower City from its foliaged surroundings. It contains a magnificent new State-House, and has important manu fs. of iron, woollen stuffs, ., and is, besides, the entrepôt of a great trade in agricultural produce and cattle. Pop. 17,364.-In Ma achusetts, a handsome city, seat of justice of Hampden co., on the Connecticut River, 98 miles S.W. of Boston. Its manufacturing interests are on a most extensive scale; machinery,engines, fire-arms, textile goods, ., being the chief staples of fabrication. The U. S. govt. have an important arsenal and arms-factory here. Pop. 26,703.- In Mi ouri, a town, C. of Greene co., 130 m. S.W. of Jefferson City. Pop. 5,555. This place was the theatre of numerous important military movements during the Civil War; and near it, Aug.10, 1861, a smart action occurred between Gen. Lyon's National command and a superior Confederate force under Gens. Price and McCulloch, in which the Nationals suffered a check, together with the lo of their commander.-In Ohio, a flourishing manuf. city, C. of Clarke co., 43 miles W. of Columbus, near the confluence of Mad River with Lagonda Creek. It has extensive manu fs. of cotton, wool, paper, machinery, . Pop. 12,652. [s. 849]