Diagnosis: Shell moderately narrow (b/1 0,34-0.42, a/1 0,34-0,42), whorls not shouldered, subsutural region shallowly impressed, basal 2/3 of each whorl evenly and moderately strongly convex; siphonal canal not dorsally notched; fasciole relatively weak; anal sinus moderately deep, directed slightly adapically; axial ribs 9-12 per whorl, weakly reversed-sigmoid, with rounded crests and sloping sides, feeble below suture and evanescing at parietal level; somewhat glossy, with microscopic growth-lines and fine spiral threads overall, the latter strongest on rostrum; protoconch of 1,75 whorls with growth-lines on last quarter-whorl, breadth 0,78-0,88 mm, b/h 0,94-1,21; orange-brown, flecked with off-white, sometimes overall, but usually on posterior part of whorl, with two lines of conspicuous pale flecks at periphery; at eastern extreme of range sometimes with a pale peripheral line or band. Adult length 6,4-16,4 mm.
Description: Shell claviform (b/1 0,34-0,42, a/1 also 0,34-0,42), spire slightly cyrtoconic, base moderately long, tapering and obliquely truncate; teleoconch whorls about 5. suture shallow, not undulating, each whorl with periphery median, not shouldered, subsutural region slightly concave, without cord or sulcus, left side of base of body whorl concave, fasciole weak, false umbilicus slight or absent. Aperture oblong-ovate, siphonal canal wide and short, its termination not notched dorsally: labial callus moderately thick, its outer edge slightly raised on columella and posteriorly forming a narrowly elongated parietal pad, which is continuous with labrum, but does not constrict anal sinus; labrum thin, slightly incurved, in side-view moderately convex, stromboid notch shallow, anal sinus fairly deep, openly U-shaped, directed outward, its lower border not alate.
Sculptured by weak axial ribs and very fine, somewhat feeble spiral threads overall: lip preceded by a fairly weak varix, growth-lines fine and regular. Axial ribs strongly opisthocline, suture-to-suture, but weak to almost obsolete above shoulder on later whorls, and on body whorl evanescing at parietal level and behind lip, equal to or slightly narrower than their intervals, crests rounded, sides sloping, weakly reversed-sigmoid; 9-12 ribs per whorl.
Colour typically moderate to brownish-orange, uniform on base except for a few rows of faint pale flecks; posteriorly each whorl is usually heavily flecked with yellowish-white, usually with 2-3 lines of spots in peripheral area; in eastern part of range, whorls are often light yellowish-brown posteriorly, with a yellowish-white line or broad band in peripheral area.
Protoconch blunt, narrowly domed, 1,75 whorls, 1st one depressed; smooth except for terminal growth-lines; breadth 0,78-0,88 mm, height 0,73-0,90 mm (b/h 0,94-1,21).
Dimensions: 16,4 x 6,1 mm (holotype); 6,4 (protoconch broken) x 2,8 mm (smallest adult paratypc). Operculum, radula and soft parts unknown.

C. herberti was originally thought to be a Transkeian colour form of Naudedrillia praetermissa. However, the protoconch is consistently smaller, as is adult size, spiral sculpture is finer, whorls are not shouldered, the aperture is less elongate, and the lip is not alatc as in fresh examples of praetermissa. The dark brown base, contrasting with the paler subsutural region (from Mbotyi southward/eastward often with a pale peripheral band), further distinguishes this species from praetermissa, but resembles the pattern found in T. isibopho. The last is a much larger species, with suture-to-base axial ribs: spiral lirae are restricted to the rostrum, and the siphonal canal is less obliquely truncate. One of the beachworn syntypes of Drillia zenobia Turton, 1932. may possibly be C. herberti, but the majority are referable to N. praetermissa (q.v.); C. herberti is not known to occur as far west as Port Alfred. Similarly, the figured type of Drillia neptuni Turton. 1932, although immature, worn and lacking its protoconch, measures 14,0 x 4.5 mm. and presumably cannot be referable to C. herberti.

South-Africa. East London to southern Natal, littoral.