164 Attempt to Breed Bhic-f ranted Amazons. 
An Attempt to Breed Blue-fronted Amazons — 
A Tragedy. 
By Wesley T. Page, F.Z.S., M.B.O.U. 
In the iate spring one of our members kindly presented 
me with a pair of Chrysotis aestiva, which duly arrived in gooa 
condition and excellent health. 
I prepared for them a small aviary with a flight 12ft. x 
loft. and a shelter 8ft. by 8ft., furnishing same with suitable 
branches and a barrel for nesting purposes. 
On arrival they were duly turned into the aviary, that is 
their cage was placed in the shelter and the door fastened open; 
in about fifteen minutes mucli parrot talk and excitement pro 
claimed the fact that they had emerged from the small limits of 
the cage to enjoy the restrained liberty of the aviary, of which 
it may fairly be said they " took possession." 
I was very fortunate, inasmuch as they were a tame pair 
of birds, and the first time I entered the aviary they flew on to 
my arm and took food from my fingers; moreover, they allowed 
me to take their beaks between my fingers and play with them 
making no attempt to bite or snap, whatever, though thev 
would take my finger in their beak, shake it about and caress 
same ; thus it will readily be understood tnat I was more than 
pleased with my new acquisitions — they made a glorious 
picture in their small aviary, a picture, unfortunately, that did 
not last ; but I must not relate the end of my yarn in the 
introduction ! 
Some weeks went by and 1 noticed them pairing, but had 
not, so far, seen them take any interest in the nest barrel. 
Meanwhile their demeanour was delightful, friendly to each 
other and to myself; in fact they were inseparable, took and 
did everything together, and were simply gorgeous on the 
wing, and always came to the aviary front to "pass the time of 
day " whenever anyone passed the aviary, and, to curtail the 
yarn they became an obsession with me. 
For some weeks still things went on similarly, and then 
I saw only one or the other slip furtively in the nest-barrel and 
a sort of satisfied content possessed me; still there were no eggs 
