Show new species of Dia diatom found in drinking water chicago to field museum of natural history there has come from harbin in Manchu kuo news of the discovery in Chi cagos drinking water of a number of new species of diatoms previously unknown to science these were discovered by dr B V ow who is engaged at harbin in a comprehensive study of the freshwater fresh water diatoms of the world several months ago the department of botany at field museum collected by use of a filter a quantity of sediment from ordinary chi cago tap water and forwarded it to i doctor ow who sent back a description of seventeen different kinds of diatoms diatoms it is explained by dr B i E dahlgren chief curator of botany at the museum belong to the group of minute aquatic plants known as algae they possess a siliceous ex skeleton or covering which is the part ordinarily studied the 1 skeletons are highly varied in form but in general resemble a pillbox in shape and frequently are marked with elegant sculpturing or intricate patterns of dots and lines therefore they are favorite test objects object for or the microscope |