 The spire is pointed and composed of nine or ten rather convex whorls, furnished with longitudinal folds or ribs, somewhat distant, and formed by the elevations of transverse striae, which are also cut transversely by other striae elevated and resembling sharp scales.These are a little more prominent upon the convexity of the longitudinal ribs than in their interstices, and it is their prolongation in this part, which causes them to resemble small spines.Its color is reddish, varied with fawn-colored or clear chestnut-brown spots.