THE AUK : 
A QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF 
ORNITHOLOGY. 
vol. xi. January, 1894. 
HYBRID PIN/COLA RNUCL EA TOR -f CAR POD- 
ACUS PURPUREUS. 
BY ERNEST E. THOMPSON. 
Plate I. 
The early part of 1S90 is remembered at Toronto as the 
great Grosbeak season. During January, February and March, 
Pine and Evening Grosbeaks appeared in such numbers as were 
nevei befoie seen. On 22d January a small red Grosbeak was 
taken from a flock of Pine Grosbeaks by Mr. William Cross, 
and was brought to me for identification. Its general appearance 
recalled Carfodacus cassinii , but having no specimen of this 
for comparison, I sent the bird to Dr. J. A. Allen, who pro- 
nounced it “clearly a hybrid between the common Purple Finch 
and the Pine Grosbeak.” The specimen was subsequently seen 
by Mr. Robert Ridgway and M. A. Suchetet, the French student 
of avian hybrids, and all concur in pronouncing it a most interest- 
ing and undoubted hybrid between the species named. 
The only question raised by M. Suchetet is — was it born in 
a state of nature? For on that the chief interest would turn. To 
this I reply, the deep red tints that are found on the Pine Gros- 
