872 Observations on an 
the water flowed slowly for the. first 3 or 4 
inches, and then rose very quickly, until the 
cistern was full; the same appearance took 
place not unfrequently in the course of his 
remarks. Where the blanks are in the co- 
lumns marked stationary at ebb, the water 
flowed again instantaneously; but there are 
some inaccuracies in this part of the table; 
for Mr. Swainston was interrupted more than 
once by travellers stopping to let their horses 
drink. The term stationary at ebb, signifies 
that the surface of the water in the cistern 
was stationary at its lowest elevation ; at 
which time the discharge from the trough was 
commonly confined to the two holes near the 
bottom of. it. 
I have now stated all the facts in my pos- 
session, that relate to reciprocating springs. 
The fountains, which have been described, 
are six in number, of these the inconstant 
brook in Westphalia, appears to require the 
agency of a siphon to account for its opera- 
tions. The characters as ascribed to Pliny’s 
Well, and the well in Dodona, are very am- 
biguous and unsatisfactory : but the operations 
of the three remaining springs, and more espe- 
cially the register of Giggleswick Well, per- 
plex the hypothesis of a siphon with insuperable 
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