1980] Evans, Matthews, & Hook — Pison in Australia 229 
Table I. Major features of cocoons of four species of Pison. 
Species 
Size (mm) 
Color 
Shape 
westwoodi 
6.5-8.0 
Light brown 
Cylindrical, more rounded 
at posterior end than 
at anterior end 
marginatum 
11-13 
Dark gray- 
brown 
Like preceding, but walls 
less thin and delicate 
spinolae 
10.5-17.5 
Brown but much 
darker at 
anterior end 
Same as marginatum 
nr. tibiale 
11-13 
Brown but 
paler at 
anterior end 
Abruptly expanded at 
anterior, blunt end 
A third group of species nests in the ground and does not use mud 
at any stage of nest construction; species, of this group have a well 
developed psammophore which is used in carrying soil from the nest 
(Evans, 1981). Prey consists of Oxyopidae except in one species that 
nests in firm clay-sand (auriventre Turner) and was found to use 
Lycosidae. 
Turner (1916) recognized aDOUt 50 species of Pison from 
Australia, and there are undoubtedly many more to be described. On 
the basis of the few species so far studied, the group appears to be a 
most rewarding one from the point of view of comparative behavior. 
It will be interesting to discover to what extent morphological 
differences parallel those in behavior and how much behavioral 
flexibility exists among the various species. 
Acknowledgments 
The 1969-70 studies of Evans and Matthews were supported by a 
grant from the National Science Foundation, no. GB8746. During 
the summer of 1979-80 Evans held a research fellowship at the 
Department of Entomology, University of Queensland, and a travel 
grant from the National Geographic Society, while Hook had a grant 
for dissertation research from the National Science Foundation, no. 
BNS79-12602. The spiders from the Canberra area were identified by 
M. R. Gray of the Australian Museum, Sydney, those from 
Queensland by V. Davies and R. McKay of the Queensland Museum, 
Brisbane. 
