Fountain
spitters are so named because they generally take the
form of a sculptured animal, person, or mythical being that "spits"
water out of its mouth.
Of course, there are some fountain spitters that are
of abstract shapes or of non-living things, and not all spitters shoot
water out of their mouths - it can come from other areas of the sculpture,
instead.
Fountain spitters can be quite fun when paired with
a pond, but they can also be used in other areas. You could even set
one up to spit inside a wooden barrel, or elsewhere. However, an added
benefit of using one with a pond is that it helps circulate the water.
Spitters use submersible pumps which draw water from
the pond (or other water feature), through a hose, and into the sculpture/spitter.
Many people opt to use spitters instead of a regular
fountain. While the water that comes from them may not be quite as
extravagant as that from a fountain, it can be quite pleasing to the
eye and ear. Also, it is generally easier to set up a spitter than
it is to set up a fountain.