Shell up to 21.0 mm in length, elongate-ovate, spire pointed, teleoconch of 5½-64 weakly con- vex whorls, protoconch of 3-34 milky-white, finely carinate embryonic whorls; sculptured with numerous axial riblets which are bisected by overriding spiral threads to give the shell an over-all granulose appearance; two rows of nodules anterior to sutures doubled up, spaces between main rows of nodules with 1-3 finer, intermediate spiral threads. Aperture moderately narrow, interior of aperture prominently lirate, columellar callus spreading onto body whorl, lower half of columella den- ticulate or wrinkled, siphonal and anal canals prominent. Base colour white, variously banded or streak- ed with dark tan or reddish-brown, columellar callus and aperture white, remnants of brown bands on body whorl forming 2-3 brown blotches towards the back of the outer lip. Operculum brown and with only 1-2 denticles on margins. TYPE LOCALITY. Marquesas Is. DISTRIBUTION. From the Society Is to the Marquesas Is, French Polynesia. In coralline sand, from the intertidal zone to a depth of 5 m. Type specimens. Three syntypes of N.candens (Hinds) are in the British Museum (N.H.), London No.1844.9.23.1-2., and the syntype measuring length 20.0 mm, width 11.2 mm, is here designated as the lectotype (Pl.8, figs.5,6). Material examined. SOCIETY IS: Tahiti (AMS; USNM); MARQUESAS IS: (AMS; USNM); Bay N.W. of Tahuata I (coll. Bratcher and Dillworth); Taiohae, Nukuhiva, 5 m (ZMC); Nukuhiva (coll. Trondle). It appears that N.candens replaces N.albescens albescens (Dunker) in French Polynesia.