DESCRIPTION OF A HYBRID SPARROW (ZO NO- 
TRICHI A ALBICOLLIS -f JUNCO HIEMALIS). 
BY CHARLES H. TOWNSEND. 
On December 12, 1882, Mr. William L. Baily shot the bird 
here described near Haverford College, Montgomery County, 
Pa. Mr. Baily suspected it to be a cross between the White- 
throated Sparrow (Z. albicollis ) and the Snowbird ( J. hiema- 
lis') , 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, thp views of Mr. William Brewster, in regard to 
Helm in th ophaga 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- 
225). Hybridity is by no means of frequent occurrence among 
our native Passeres, and a case of it between different genera of 
the Fringillidce 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 of 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 y. hiemalis ; white spot from nostrils to eyes. 
Wing-coverts white-tipped, as in Z. albicollis , and edge of wing 
faintly yellowish. Length about 7 - 5 ° > 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 Zonotriehia 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 Helminthophaga cincinnatiensis 
Langd, believed by Mr. Ridgway (see this Bulletin, Vol. V, p. 237) to be 
a hybrid between Helminthophila pi nus and Oporornis formosa , may be 
counted as a third example of like character, to say nothing of the several 
probable cases cited by Mr. Brewster in the paper above referred to by 
Mr . Townsend. — J. A. Allen.] 
UN, O.O, S.Apil. 1889, p, 7 SO ■ 
