To end uncertainty about the identity of T. milium, we designated as its neotype the holotype of T. illecebra (NMW 1955.158.00597, pi. 2 fig. 12). This renders these names objective synonyms and makes the type locality of T. milium the Straits of Korea. Thala milium is endemic to Japan, ranging from Yamaguchi Prefecture on the Straits of Korea to the Boso Peninsula, Chiba Prefecture. Dead shells are often found intertidally. Specimens illustrated as Thala exilis by Tsuchiya (2000, pl. 285, fig. 1ll) and Habe (1961, pl. 34, fig. 1. right) are actually T milium, which is the most common, if not the only, Thala on Honshu. True T. exilis (lectotype illustrated by Rosenberg & Salisbury, 2003, fig. 10) is not yet known to occur in Japan.

Shell small, alternately-fusiform, ochreous brown, seven-whorled, three being nuclear and vitreous, the uppermost globular, the four lower whorls are slightly impressed suturally, longitudinally multicostulate, spirally crossed by closely-set sulcations which cross the afore-mentioned riblets; mouth narrow, outer lip straight, smooth ; columella triplicate.
Alt.: 6. Diam.: 1,50 mm.
Locality: Straits of Korea, at 40 fathoms, obtained during the cruise of H.M.S. Sylvia in 1875, under command of Captain St. John. The specimen was presented to Mr. Tomlin by the late Mr. J. T. Marshall, and is unique and most interesting on account of its very small size as a member of the section Vulpecula, Blainville, formerly known as Turricula, Klein. This name had to be superseded for two reasons : firstly, Klein was not a binominal author, and secondly Turricula, Schumacher (1817), must take the place of Surcula, H. and A. Adams (1853). The type belongs to Mr. Tomlin.