■883-] TowNSEND on a Hybrid Sparroiv. '7Q 



Its) , and recently left it with me for further examination. Having 

 compared it with specimens of these species I fully agree with 

 him as to its hybrid nature, since it bears the prominent charac- 

 ters of each bird. The specimen (a male) was shot in company 

 with the above named species, both of which are quite common 

 here this winter. 



I indorse the views of Mr. William Brewster, in regard to 

 Helminthophaga leucobronchialis and H. lawrencei^ and his 

 explanation of -several obscure species of North American birds 

 on the grounds of hybridity (this Bulletin, Vol. VI, pp. 218- 

 235). Hybridity is by no means of frequent occurrence among 

 our native Passeres, and a case of it between different genera of 

 the Fringillid(B is of more than passing interest, but the hybrid 

 does not warrant a special name, as some ornithologists have 

 thought. 



Description : Intermediate in size between Z. albicollis and 

 y. hiemalis. Bill, nearly the size of that of Z. albicollis. but 

 colored like that o^ hiemalis. Throat as in albicollis., breast and 

 belly as in hiemalis. Tail of ten feathers, outer pair white, with 

 the basal third dark ; second pair with a small white spot on 

 inner vane ; other tail feathers dark, pale-edged above. Upper 

 plumage mainly like that of Z. albicollis., but suffused with the 

 slaty color of J. hiemalis ; white spot from nostrils to eyes. 

 Wing-coverts white-tipped, as in Z. albicollis., and edge of wing 

 fiiintly yellowish. Length about 7.50; wing and tail, 3. Male. 



[Through the kindness of Mr. Townsend I have been able to examine 

 the hybrid above described, which combines in nearly equal degree the 

 characters of Junco hiemalis and Zonotrichia albicollis. The black bands 

 on each side of the crown are narrower and less distinct than in the latter 

 and the superciliary line is represented merely by a white spot above the 

 lores. There is a faint maxillary stripe. The black streaks of the inter- 

 scapular region are much narrower than in Z. albicollis., and the rufous 

 edgings of the feathers are suffused with slate ; there is also less rufous on 

 the wings, and the rump and upper tail-coverts are also more olivaceus, 

 and the tail is darker. 



This example, taken in connection with the hybrid Swallow described 

 sometime since by Mr. Trotter in this Bulletin (Vol. Ill, pp. 135, 136, July, 

 1878), is of the highest interest, as intimated by Mr. Townsend, as throw- 

 ing light on certain obscure Audubonian species known thus far only from 

 the single examples on which the species were based' and makes the sec- 

 ond known case of hybridity between species of quite distinct genera 

 among our Oscine birds. Doubtless the Helmintkofhaga cincinnatiensis 



