Secondary Tc cells immune to alphaviruses (BEB, SIN and SFV) cross‐react between serologically defined subgroups at the level of target lysis and at the level of induction of response. Despite this apparently complete Tc cell cross‐reactivity between BFB, SIN and SFV, amisera raised against BEB and SIN showed virus specificity in their ability to block Tc cell‐mediated lysis of alpha virus‐infected targets. This result suggests that Tc cells recognize the same viral antigen molecule as antibodies, but with less specificity. Other possible interpretations are discussed.