a spring or source of water rising out of the earth. Among the ancients, fountains generally were esteemed sacred; but some more especially so than others. The good effects resulting from cold bathing appears to have given rise to the belief that springs and rivers derived their salutary influence from some presiding deity. It was customary to throw little pieces of money into springs, lakes, or rivers, in order to render the presiding divinities propitious; as the touch of a naked body was supposed to pollute their hallowed waters. For the phenomena, theory, and origin of fountains or springs, see Physical Geography; Springs; Artesian Wells; and General Index.

Artificial fountains, of which there are various kinds, are all formed by pressure of some kind or other upon the water, viz., by the pressure or weight of a head of water, or by the pressure arising from the spring and elasticity of condensed air.

FOUNTAIN-Tree, or Til-Tree, a very extraordinary tree said to have existed formerly in the island of Hierro, one of the Canaries, and to have distilled water from its leaves in such abundance as to satisfy the requirements of those who lived near it. Whether such a tree ever existed is questionable; yet various writers have mentioned the fountain-tree of Hierro in apparently good faith. Glasse, in his History of the Canary Islands, published at London in 1764, alludes to it in the following terms:—"Many writers have made mention of this famous tree, some in such a manner as to make it appear miraculous; others again deny the existence of any such tree, among whom is Father Feyjoo, a modern Spanish author, in his Teatro Critico. But he, and those who agree with him in this matter, are as much mistaken as those who would make it appear to be miraculous. This is the only island of all the Canaries which I have not been in; but I have sailed with natives of Hierro, who, when questioned about the existence of this tree, answered in the affirmative."