Chronology.
[1794]. In a "Zoology of New Zealand",the naturalist Shaw gave the first written description of
the bird he named Psittacus undulatus.
[1831]. A single specimen of a Budgerigar was exhibited in the Linnaean Society Museum in London.
[1840]. John Gould, the naturalist, introduced the first living specimens into England.These were raised
by his brother-in-law,Charles Coxen. Gould also published a discription of their habits ("The
Birds of Australia ,"1840), and reclassified them as Melopsittacus undulatus ,the scientific name they
bear today.
[1855]. In Berlin, Budgerigars were bred for the first time by Grafin von Schwerin.
[1870-75]. A Light Yellow mutation appeared from the mating of a pair of green Budgerigars.The first yellow coloured birds are recorded as having appeared in Europe.They appeared to be two types, both a dark or normal
eye and a red eyed type occured at the same time.Although the black eyed type was fixed and is bred to this time ,
the red eyed disappeared.
[1880-85]. The first Sky blues were noticed on the continent. These birds were carefully bred. Today
the blue is the most popular pet colour in America.
[1910]. Sky blue Budgerigars were exhibited in England.
[1915]. The first Dark green birds appeared in France.
[1916]. Olive green were developed from dark green.
[1920]. The first Cobalt coloured birds were bred by crossing sky blue and olive green.
[1918]. Gray winged greens, originally called "Jades" were reported as mutations several times.
By crossing these with the ordinary blue and white, the blue form of the gray wing was established.
[1931]. Cinnamons were produced in England,Austria, and Germany, Red eyed fallows were reported in California in this year but died out.
[1932]. Fallow mutations appeared in Germany and a little later, in Australia and S Africa. Albino
mutation appeared and were fixed in several countries.
[1933]. The Clear wing appeared in Australia and a dominant form of Gray. Opalines were bred in
England
and Australia. the latter from a green opaline hen which was caught in a wild state.
[1935]. Yellow faced blues appeared and a Danish fancier fixed a new breeding strain of pied budgerigars.
The Second World War interrupted to a great extent the normal development of the Budgerigar.
Credits.. Earl Schneider.
