Testa parva, elongata, conica, laevi, circa basin spiraliter, striata; anfr. vii. subplanatis, suturis distinctis; albida, aurantio varie picta; apertura; subquadrata, labro sinuato, subacuto, intus conspicue dentato; labio parvo, vix crenato; apice interdum decollato. Long., .32; long, spir., .15; lat., .15 poll. (Carpenter.)
Shell fusiformly ovate, yellowish-white, reticulated with pale brown, the interstices being of irregular shapes and sizes or, in other words, it is pale brown, closely spotted irregularly with yellowish-white; epidermis very thin; apex eroded, remaining whorls 6, flattish or scarcely convex, smooth, separated by a deep suture, giving the spire a slightly turreted aspect; last whorl feebly angular at the middle, contracted inferiorly, and striated around the extremity; aperture pale lilac within, occupying about three-sevenths of the entire length; outer lip arcuate, thickened, especially at the upper part; thin at the margin, and armed within the mouth with about 7 elongated tubercles; columella arched above, oblique at the base, with indications of one or two tubercles below the middle, covered with a thin whitish callosity; basal canal a little recurved. (Tryon, Manual of Conchology.)

RANGE. Kodiak, Alaska, to San Diego, California. This is the Nittidella dalli E. A. Smith.