Shell up to 19.0 mm in length, elongate-ovate, solid, shining, teleoconch of 5½-6 whorls, pro- toconch of 2+ embryonic whorls; sculptured with very slender axial ribs which are usually interrupted anterior to sutures by a shallow trough which also separates sutural nodules; spiral sculpture absent with the exception of numerous, very fine macro-striae on upper spire whorls. Aperture narrow, outer lip prominently thickened and swept up in profile, edge of outer lip denticulate, columellar callus partly spread on to body whorl, thick and concavely excavated above parietal wall, callus continuing as a lozenge-shaped extension above anal canal, columella with small denticles, siphonal and anal canals prominent, siphonal fasciole with a single strong cord. Cream to fawn in colour, body whorl with 1-2 greenish-brown spiral bands, columellar callus white, interior of aperture purple-brown, banded with white. Operculum brown and simple at margins.
TYPE LOCALITY. Art I, New Caledonia (acuticostus); Tonga-Tabu, Tonga Is (pauperatum Quoy & Gaimard); New Guinea (bullata). DISTRIBUTION. From Indonesia to the Ryukyu Is and Niue I. In coral sand, sand-pockets on reefs, intertidal. Type specimens. The type of N.acuticostus (Montrouzier), is in the Museum of Bordeaux, France, but it is not available for examination. The original description and illustration, however, clearly identify the species (pl.11, fig.11). The type of Buccinum pauperatum Quoy & Gaimard (also type of bullata Marrat) is in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris.

Material examined. INDONESIA: Daeo, S.coast of Morotai, Malaka; Pantai Kepala Lima, 5 km N. of Kupang, W.Timor; Pantai Pura, N. of Kupang, W.Timor; Nusa Tenggara, Timor (all coll. McCausland); PHILIPPINES: Tubajon Bay, Dinagat (ZMC); RYUKYU IS: Oshima I (coll. Powell); WEST IRIAN: Biak, Middleburgh I (both AMS); PAPUA NEW GUINEA: Nissan I (coll. Powell); Palikan village, Mussan I, New Ireland (coll. Parkin- son); Laing I, Hansa Bay (coll. Tursch); Okaibolma village, Kiriwina I, Trobriand group; N. of Madang (both AMS); Mangop, S. of Kavieng, New Ireland (coll. Ritter); Madang (coll. Hoeter); AUSTRALIA: Lindeman I, Whitsunday Passage (AMS); SOLOMON IS: Rennell I, Karggava Bay (ZMC); Kumbara; Ata; Laulasi I, Malaita I; Wagina I, Choiseul I; Vanikoro, Santa Cruz group (all AMS); Maraunibina I, Marau Sound; Gaskell, Guadalcanal (both Auckland Univ.); NEW HEBRIDES: Kakula I, Undine Bay, N.Efate I (AIM); Tuki Tuki Pt.; Pango Pt.; Port Havannah, all Efate I (all coll. Eker); Lolowai, Aoba (coll. Gardner); LOYALTY IS: Lifu I (USNM); NEW CALEDONIA: (ZMC); FIJI IS: Ogea I, Lau group (coll. Northgrove); Savusavu Pt.; Leleuvia I, E.off Viti Levu (both coll. Dickerson); Korolevu, S.Viti Levu; Nadi Bay, W.Viti Levu (both AMS); Rat Tail Passage, Suva reef; Lomalagi, S.Viti Levu (both coll. WOC); NIUE I: (coll. Powell).