I have always loved stories told from the point of view of animals. It's always interesting to look at the world through their eyes. This story by Kuprin is just from this category. I read the story and remembered my first dog, St. Bernard Nora. You can say that she nursed me. Thanks to her, I was not afraid to be alone at home (and I was still in kindergarten at that time) and my parents calmly trusted me with her. Probably, like Sapsan, she silently called me Little. She always treated me condescendingly, protected me, and gave me sledding rides. She loved her madly, and cried just as madly when she was gone. Many years have passed, but I still love and remember her.
The peregrine falcon is the “friend and patron” of its Master. Boundlessly devoted to him and his family. And like all huge dogs, he is completely lost in front of small dogs, who, despite their small stature, rush with bulging eyes without fear at such giants as Sapsan.
Sapsan's favorite is the owner's daughter. "Small".
“Don’t be afraid, my Little One. When I’m with you, not a single animal, not a single person in the world will dare to offend you.” I read and my eyes were wet.
An amazing story, full of love for our little brothers. Helps us understand how attached they are to us and how dependent we are on each other.
Not without a fly in the ointment. Publishers continue to protect the peace of mind of children, or rather the nerves of their parents. In Tolstoy's book "For Children" in the story The Lion and the Dog, they did not publish the final illustration, where a lion hugging a dog lies in a cage. Several significant paragraphs were also deleted from this story:
People are not the same. They always crush the weak. Even the Master, the kindest of people, sometimes hits me so hard - not at all loudly, but cruelly - with the words of others, small and cowardly, that I feel ashamed and sorry. I quietly poke his hand with my nose, but he doesn’t understand and waves it away. We dogs are seven and many times more subtle than people in terms of guessing thoughts. In order for people to understand each other, they need external differences, words, changes in voice, gaze and touch. I know their souls simply, with one inner instinct. I feel in secret, unknown, trembling ways how their souls blush, turn pale, tremble, envy, love, hate. When the Master is not at home, I know from afar: happiness or misfortune has befallen him, and I am happy or sad. They say about us: such and such a dog is good, such and such is evil. No. Only a person can be angry or kind, brave or cowardly, trusting or secretive. And according to him, the dogs living with him under the same roof.
And this is the last paragraph of the story, it is also missing:
I don’t like moonlit nights, and I have an unbearable desire to howl when I look at the sky. It seems to me that someone big is looking from there, larger than the Master himself, the one whom the Master so incomprehensibly calls “Eternity” or something else. Then I vaguely have a presentiment that my life will someday end, just as the lives of dogs, beetles and plants end. Will the Master come to me then, before the end? I don't know. I would really like that. But even if He doesn’t come, my last thought will still be about Him.
The peregrine falcon is a unique bird of its kind. This creature is the fastest feathered predator. Only his close relative the gyrfalcon can compete with him in the art of flight. With its modest size, the peregrine falcon is a formidable predator, the prey of which can be birds and rodents with a larger body mass. Long time Peregrine falcons were trained to later be used for hunting. Now this practice has practically ceased. In many countries, this species is protected, but human influence on the natural habitat of these bird predators greatly affects their numbers.
The peregrine falcon is a unique bird of its kind
Anatomical characteristics of peregrine falcons
This bird is extremely small in size. The body length of an adult peregrine falcon rarely exceeds 35-38 cm. Males are usually much smaller than females. The differences between the sexes in birds of this species are quite significant. Females usually weigh about 1-1.5 kg. Males extremely rarely reach a weight of 750 g. Typically, the difference in weight between birds forming a pair during the mating season is no more than 30%. The wingspan can vary from 75 to 120 cm.
There are no obvious differences in plumage color between the sexes of this species. In adults, the back, wings and rump are bluish-black in color. This is a kind of background on which gray-blue stripes are clearly visible. The bird's chest and abdomen are lighter in color, including black and dark brown thin longitudinal stripes. The tips of the flight feathers are usually black. The tail of these birds is very narrow, but in relation to their body weight it is quite long. It has black and white stripes at its tips. The plumage on the head is dark in color. From the beak to the throat part you can see 2 stripes of dark feathers that form a kind of “whisker”.
The beak is yellow at the base and black at the top. In the area of the beak there are frequent teeth that help this bird of prey to bite through the spine of the prey and hold it. In the area near the nostrils there are special tubercles that direct air to the side during the bird's rapid fall. This allows the feathered predator to breathe relatively easily during maneuvers. The peregrine falcon's legs deserve special attention. They are quite short, but at the same time very thick and strong. Each finger has a large claw. This arrangement of the lower limbs also allows the peregrine falcon to be an effective predator.
This creature is the fastest feathered predator
Another notable feature of these birds is their eyes. The peregrine falcon has big ones. The iris is dark brown in color. There is no feathering around the bird's eyes, so the pale yellow skin is clearly visible. Vision is extremely important for the peregrine falcon, therefore, in the process of evolution, this creature has developed a third eyelid that protects its keen eyes from damage.
Predators of the sky (video)
Gallery: peregrine falcon bird (25 photos)
Distribution area of peregrine falcons
Currently, more than 70 species of these birds living everywhere have been described. In this regard, peregrine falcons are true cosmopolitans. They are found throughout Eurasia, and in addition, large populations of these birds have been identified in North America and Africa. Peregrine falcons inhabit open areas. The most preferred for them are tundra, forest-tundra, savanna and forest-steppe. In addition, these creatures are found in large numbers along the rocky coasts of seas and oceans. Among other things, there is currently an increase in the number of these birds, which prefer the urban jungle, because even here this magnificent hunter can find a lot of prey.
Most peregrine falcons prefer to settle in rocky valleys near the banks of rivers and large bodies of water. Not all birds can easily tolerate human society. Peregrine falcons try to avoid continuous forest areas, as well as desert areas. In addition, these birds avoid highlands, since there are too few animals here that could serve as prey for them. Thanks to their unique flight abilities, peregrine falcons have spread not only across almost all continents, but also inhabited many islands. These unique birds of prey are not found only in Antarctica.
The subspecies of peregrine falcons that inhabit the northernmost regions are migratory and make long migrations to winter in Brazil, Southeast Asia and the United States. Birds that nest in Africa, India, South America, Australia are sedentary, since they are established in this area climatic conditions allow them to obtain sufficient food throughout the year. Despite the fact that the peregrine falcon is quite common in nature, ornithologists have noted a decrease in their numbers almost everywhere. Significantly on the population of these birds of prey The use of certain pesticides has had an effect, which, accumulating in the body of adult individuals, causes their eggs to not develop. Thus, many couples have become sterile and cannot produce offspring.
Peregrine falcon lifestyle
For most of the year, these birds try to lead a solitary lifestyle. Peregrine falcons, when flying level, can reach speeds of up to 120 km/h. However, the diving feathered predator is of particular interest. Seeing its prey, the peregrine falcon rushes down.
The speed of such a flight can reach 320 km/h. The bird bends its wings slightly and slightly inclines its beak towards its chest. This improves the aerodynamic properties of her body and allows her to increase her flight speed significantly. The peregrine falcon begins to dive from a great height. This increases the chances that his victim will not notice his maneuver and will not have time to escape. In addition, such flying skills allow him to catch other types of birds in the air.
Peregrine falcons feed mainly on small animals. The basis of their diet consists of:
- sparrows;
- pigeons;
- waders;
- starlings;
- blackbirds;
- ducks;
- magpies;
- crows;
- hummingbird;
- the bats;
- hares;
- proteins;
- lizards;
- snakes;
- insects;
- lemmings;
- voles;
- gophers.
Usually the peregrine falcon flies out to hunt in the morning and evening hours. This predator catches prey on the fly. If the peregrine falcon does not see a bird or animal that could be caught, it can sit on the branches of a tall tree for long hours, waiting. If this predator is too hungry, it will fly low over the plain to scare away potential prey. Then he simply grabs her with his tenacious claws and kills her with lightning speed with his sharp beak.
If a peregrine falcon's prey is in the air, it tries to gain altitude as quickly as possible, and then dives sharply down to grab the prey with its claws. When an attack occurs during a dive, the head of the prey may be torn off from a strong blow or the torso may be completely ripped open. The peregrine falcon rarely has to use its beak to subdue its prey. Typically, these predators seek to retire with the caught prey on a high ledge or branch in order to calmly continue their meal. Unlike many other species of birds of prey, peregrine falcons never eat the wings, head or paws of their prey.
10 fastest birds in the world (video)
Bird behavior during the breeding season
Despite the fact that the peregrine falcon keeps to itself throughout almost the entire year, it is still impossible to do without a pair during the breeding season. These birds are believed to be monogamous. At a young age, they find a suitable partner for themselves, and then meet only during breeding periods. When a favorable time comes, the birds immediately occupy a certain territory, which they jealously guard. They even drive away crows and other birds of prey that would like to establish nests nearby.
After this, the peregrines begin the mating ritual, which involves performing a lot of acrobatic pirouettes, as well as passing food to the female in flight. Usually birds try to build nests on high ground, that is, on tall trees or rocks. If there is no suitable place, they can make a bowl on the ground.
Each pair usually has several spare seats, which are intended in case the main one goes bankrupt. Under certain circumstances, peregrine falcons may occupy old nests of other birds of prey.
The female begins laying eggs only in April. Usually there are from 2 to 5 of them in a nest. They have a red-brown shell with small dark spots. Both birds are busy incubating eggs. The incubation process usually takes 33 to 35 days. Despite the fact that the chicks are born covered with warm down, at first they require additional heating from the adult.
From the first days of life, babies eat meat. The parents tear the prey into small pieces and feed it to the birds. If there is enough food, the chicks grow quickly and after 1 month molt, receiving adult plumage. Even after they begin to hunt on their own, their parents continue to feed them, since young animals need time to master the art of flight. Peregrine falcons reach sexual maturity at one year of age, but begin to form pairs after a couple of years.
Attention, TODAY only!
Most people associate the word peregrine falcon with a high-speed electric train from Siemens. However, none of them thought about the reason for this name. In fact, the peregrine falcon is a bird that, in its speed, surpasses all living creatures living on our planet. Suffice it to say that it can fly at a speed of 100 km/h, and this is only in horizontal flight. When diving, the speed reaches 322 km/h. Here's an allegory with a high-speed electric train, which can move at a similar speed. In other words, the brand name of the train is inextricably linked with the bird of prey, the peregrine falcon.
The peregrine falcon is a member of the falcon family. Its habitat includes all continents, with the exception of Antarctica. The color of the bird is quite original. The light belly goes well with the gray back. At the same time, the head is completely black. Scientists know 17 species of peregrine falcon. The bird is unique in that it is capable of flying at enormous speeds, up to 90 meters per second. If the falcon has already identified a victim, it will definitely catch up with it. The peregrine falcon's attacks are unexpected and lightning fast, and it is useless to run away from it.
It turns out that in terms of flight speed, the peregrine falcon is the undisputed leader among birds. But it is not so. In the horizontal plane, swifts fly faster than it. They are capable of reaching speeds of up to 110 km/h. But when diving, the peregrine falcon has no equal. At this time, it develops a speed of 322 km/hour. And this despite the fact that the falcon is the size of a crow.
The peregrine falcon hunts just like all representatives of the falcon family. It either observes its surroundings from a high position, or looks out for prey while hovering low above the ground. Having noticed the victim, it rises high into the sky, dives at it from a great height, and hits it in the head with its paws. At a speed of 300 km/h, such a blow is fatal even for a large animal. In addition, the falcon bites the cervical vertebrae of the victim with its powerful and sharp beak. I dive with great speed, the peregrine falcon does not suffocate. His nasal septum slows down the airflow.
The peregrine falcon feeds on small birds (sparrows, starlings, wild ducks, pigeons). Can attack hares, squirrels, small mammals, amphibians, and rodents. Sometimes the falcon settles near human habitation, where it hunts jackdaws and pigeons. He is an excellent and fearless hunter.
A pair of falcons marks their territory and guards it jealously. The female with the chicks is very aggressive. At the slightest danger, she boldly rushes at the enemy, even if it is a seasoned four-legged predator.
The peregrine falcon builds its nest on high rocks or on tree branches. The bird is monogamous. The male and female remain faithful to each other throughout their lives. They are ready to mate at the age of two. Several generations of peregrine falcons nest in the same territory. The mating season coincides with the end of spring and the beginning of summer. The male is the first to arrive at the nesting site. To attract a female, he begins to make incredible pirouettes in the air. The female appears a little later. She sits next to the male and begins to clean his plumage. The male can feed the female various delicacies. The transfer of food occurs in a very original way. The male is at the top, and the female is below him, in an inverted position. The bird's nesting site is jealously guarded. The optimal distance between neighboring nests should be at least a kilometer. Otherwise, fights may arise between neighbors. There may be several nests in one territory, which peregrine falcons use alternately. All slots must be located in close proximity from bodies of water.
The female lays a clutch of three eggs once a year, and then incubates them for 35 days. Sometimes a male replaces her. Chicks are born completely unadapted to independent life. The female nurses and feeds them, while the male hunts and delivers food to the family. Babies make their first flight from the nest at one month old. Parents are left only after several weeks have passed.
The peregrine falcon's natural enemies are martens, eagle owls, and foxes. People also make his life much more difficult. It's all about the chemicals he uses to treat grain crops. They are the ones who negatively affect the reproduction of the falcon.
Currently, the peregrine falcon population has sharply declined, and therefore it was included in the Red Book.
Description of the bird
The peregrine falcon is a large falcon with a body length of 34 to 50 cm, a wingspan of 80 to 120 cm. Females are larger than males: their weight is from 910 to 1500 g, and males are usually a third less, their weight is from 440 to 750 g. The plumage color of males and females is the same.
The bird is distinguished by its robust build with a broad chest, strong fingers with sharp curved claws, and a short, sickle-shaped beak. The plumage of adult birds on the back, wings and rump is slate-gray, with dark transverse stripes. The tips of the wings are painted black. The belly is light: from grayish-white, pinkish to reddish or ocher tones, with brown or black thin transverse streaks. The breast is decorated with teardrop-shaped streaks. The tail is long and narrow, rounded at the end. The bottom of the tail is black with a white edge. The head is black on top, black “whiskers” stretch from the corner of the beak to the throat, the throat is light, white or reddish. The eyes are large, dark brown, with a yellow eye ring. The cere is yellow, the beak and paws are black. At the end of the beak there are teeth designed to bite the spine of the victim.
Juveniles have contrasting plumage. They have a brown back with buffy edges of coverts, a light belly with longitudinal streaks. The cere is bluish-gray, the paws are yellow.
The peregrine falcon hunts birds of medium and small size: sparrows, thrushes, starlings, pigeons, ducks. Mainly, on those bird species that are common in its habitat. In addition to birds, the peregrine falcon's diet includes small mammals such as bats, squirrels and hares, as well as amphibians and insects. The Siberian subspecies of peregrine falcon eats lemmings, gophers, and voles.
Peregrine falcons hunt in the morning and evening, often in pairs. Prey is caught on the fly. The peregrine falcon can lie in ambush for a long time, sit on a high ledge, or fly low above the ground to scare off the prey. Having spotted prey in the air, the bird quickly gains altitude, folds its wings and dives sharply vertically downwards. During such a flight, the peregrine falcon's speed reaches 322 km/h, or 90 m/s, thanks to which this bird has earned the title of the fastest living organism in the world. The impact on the victim can be so strong that the victim’s head flies off or the body is torn apart along its entire length. If the force of the blow does not kill the victim, then the falcon breaks its neck with its beak. With the food it has obtained, the peregrine falcon rises to a height where it eats it.
Bird distribution
The peregrine falcon is a cosmopolitan bird, widespread on all continents (except Antarctica) and on the islands. Unpretentious to its living conditions, the peregrine falcon easily masters both the Arctic tundra and the hot tropics. In general, the bird is found almost everywhere, except in polar and high mountain regions, steppes, deserts and tropical rainforests. In the mountains, peregrine falcons live at altitudes up to 4000 m above sea level.
To live, peregrine falcons prefer areas inaccessible to humans with a wide horizon and proximity to water, for example, rocky shores of reservoirs and mountain river valleys. Occasionally, peregrine falcons live in populated areas.
The majority of the population leads a sedentary lifestyle, or migrates nearby for the winter. Only birds living in arctic and subarctic climates make long migrations.
Common Peregrine Falcon Species
Subspecies Falco peregrinus peregrinus Tunstall
Distributed in the temperate zone of Eurasia. Leads a sedentary lifestyle. Weight of males 580-750 g, females 925-1300 g
Subspecies Falco peregrinus calidus Latham
Known as the tundra falcon, or white-cheeked falcon, which lives in the Eurasian tundra and on the islands of the Arctic Ocean. A migratory subspecies, in winter it flies to the eastern coast of the Mediterranean, Black and Caspian Seas, to Central Asia. The color is generally lighter, especially in the head area; there are no red tones in the plumage. The weight of males is 588-740 g, females 925-1333 g.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus japonensis Gmelin 1788
Lives in the northeast of Siberia, Kamchatka and the Japanese Islands. Outwardly it resembles the subspecies peregrinus, but young individuals are noticeably darker.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus brookei Sharpe
Also known as the "Maltese falcon". Distributed in the Mediterranean, the Iberian Peninsula, North-West Africa, Asia Minor, the Caucasus and the southern coast of Crimea. Resident bird. The size is small, the belly has a red tint. The weight of males is up to 445 g, females - up to 920 g.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus pelegrinoides Temminck
Inhabitant of the Canary Islands, North Africa and the Middle East. The plumage is light on top, the neck is red, the belly is sandy with pale stripes. The weight of males is from 330 to 400 g, females from 513 to 765 g.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus peregrinator Sundevall 1837
The subspecies is found in southern Asia (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, China). resident bird small size, painted in dark colors. The belly is red with light stripes.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus madens Ripley & Watson
Lives on the Cape Verde Islands and differs from other peregrine falcons by the presence of sexual dimorphism in color: males have reddish streaks on the head, back of the head, ears and back, and on the tummy they are pinkish-brown; females are uniformly brown. The subspecies is on the verge of extinction.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus macropus
The subspecies' habitat is southern Africa, where it leads a sedentary lifestyle. It is distinguished by its small size and dark plumage color.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus macropus Swainson
A sedentary species found only in Australia. It is similar in appearance to the brookei subspecies, but is smaller in size and has a patch of black feathers in the ear area.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus ernesti Sharpe
Lives on the Pacific Islands south of Indonesia and the Philippines and north of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. Resident bird. She has clear dark stripes on her belly and black feathers around her ears.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus furuitii Momiyama
A very rare resident of the Bonin Islands and Izu Islands (Japan). Sedentary subspecies. The plumage is dark, similar to pealei.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus nesiotes Mayr
Breeds on the Fiji Islands of Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Leads a sedentary lifestyle.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus anatum Bonaparte
Found only in North America. A sedentary and rare species. It is small in size, the weight of males is 500-570 g, females - up to 960 g. Adults are light and less variegated on the belly, and young ones are dark and with pronounced stripes.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus pealei Ridgway
Known as the Aleutian or black falcon, it lives on the Pacific coast of North America. Less common in Kamchatka and Kuril Islands. Does not migrate. The largest subspecies with pronounced stripes on the belly. The beak is wide. Juveniles have a light-colored upper part of the head.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus tundraus White
Habitat: Arctic tundra of North America and Greenland. A migratory subspecies that migrates to Central and South America in winter. A small and light bird with a pure white forehead and ears, and a dark upper part of the head and "whiskers". Juveniles are brown.
Subspecies Falco peregrinus cassini Sharpe
Distributed in South America (Ecuador, Bolivia, Peru, Argentina, Chile, Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Islands). Distinguished by a patch of black feathers on the ears.
The main manifestation of sexual dimorphism in the peregrine falcon is the large size of females compared to males; the plumage color of most subspecies is the same.
Peregrine falcons reach sexual maturity at the age of 1 year, but begin breeding at the age of two or three years. Peregrine falcons are monogamous birds and retain their pairs for many years. Peregrine falcons also become attached to the nesting territory.
The mating season begins in April-June for peregrine falcons, later in northern populations. The male is the first to arrive at the nesting site and begins to call the female, performing aerial pirouettes: spinning, diving, tumbling. If the female sits nearby, a pair is formed. In this case, peregrine falcons sit side by side for a long time, look at each other, and preen their feathers. The male often feeds the female.
During the nesting period, peregrine falcons are very aggressive towards strangers, be they birds, animals or people. Their neighboring nests are located at a distance of 2 to 6 km.
Peregrine falcons build a nest near a pond, or occupy old nests of other birds of prey. As a nest, a hole is dug in the ground or an area is cleared. There is no bedding. A large number of bone remains of prey and traces of chick droppings always accumulate around the peregrine falcon’s nest.
Egg laying occurs in late April or early May. The female lays three eggs every 48 hours. The eggs are bright, brownish or red with dark reddish-brown spots. The incubation period lasts from 33 to 35 days, and both partners take part in it, although the female spends most of the time in the nest.
Newborn chicks are covered in gray-white down, have large feet, and are helpless. The female feeds and warms the offspring, and the male is engaged in obtaining food for the family. The chicks begin to fledge at the age of 35 to 45 days, but continue to depend on their parents for several more weeks until they learn to get their own food. Young peregrine falcons leave the nest around the end of June.
Peregrine falcon voice
Peregrine falcons are fairly silent birds. Their voice - a loud, sharp, abrupt cry of “kyak-kyak” or “keeek-keeek” - is heard during the mating season, when the birds use it to communicate and attract the attention of females. When restless, the peregrine falcon makes a rough, quick “cra-cra” sound. During courtship, birds make loud "ee-chip" sounds.
- The peregrine falcon is the fastest bird in the world. In a diving flight, it reaches a speed of about 322 km/h, or 90 m/s
- In 1530, Emperor Charles V gave the island of Malta to the Knights Hospitaller (Order of Malta), and obliged the knights to send him one peregrine falcon every year. This story is described in the novel by English writer Dashiell Hammett “The Maltese Falcon” (1930). And in the USA in 1941 a film was made based on this book. One of the subspecies of peregrine falcons is called “Maltese”.
- Peregrine falcons have always been considered a rare bird. Due to the use of DDT and other pesticides, the population began to decline, but has slowly recovered since the 1970s. The peregrine falcon is included in the Red Book of Russia, and trade in these birds is prohibited throughout the world.
The peregrine falcon belongs to the falcon family. This predatory representative of the flora is distributed throughout the globe with the exception of Antarctica. It is not for nothing that the peregrine falcon is called the fastest of all living creatures - it can dive at a speed of 300 km/h.
The peregrine falcon belongs to the falcon family
Features of the bird
In the falcon family, the peregrine falcon shares the first place in popularity with the gyrfalcon. The size of the bird is similar to a crow. The body length of males is about 50 cm, but females are slightly larger - about 70 cm. The weight of an adult male can reach 1 kg, and an adult female - 1.5 kg. The wingspan in flight of an adult is from 80 to 120 cm. The body of the bird is well developed. Even under the cover of feathers, muscles and a broad chest are visible.
The short tail and wide wings allow the falcon to dive and overtake its prey. Ornithologists believe that nature has created the peregrine falcon as an “ideal killing machine”: its sharp beak and long, strong legs with clawed fingers simply rip apart the victim’s body in flight. The color of the bird is also interesting. Juveniles are brown in color, and the lower part is light gray. But with age, the color intensifies and turns into slate gray with black shades. The breast may turn pinkish, yellow or grey-white. The color depends on the habitat. In addition, dark inclusions seem to be scattered throughout the plumage.
The peregrine falcon is a cunning and ruthless opponent However, hunters all over the world value this fastest living creature not for its beauty, but for its speed. The peregrine falcon is a cunning and ruthless opponent. During the hunt, he hovers above the ground and looks out for the prey, because nature has endowed him with very acute vision. The falcon feeds on pigeons, seagulls, and sparrows.
Quite often, a predator can grab from the ground a bird that is larger in size - a heron, duck or goose. Occasionally, falcons even hunt small rodents, but large mammals don't touch.
And yet, the peregrine falcon’s favorite hunt is aerial hunting. Looking out for prey, the bird reaches speeds of up to 110 km/h. And although swifts, swallows and other birds fly at the same speed, the falcon’s secret is a sharp, deadly dive. It swoops down on its prey at speeds of 250 to 300 km/h and then strikes it with its paws and beak. Interestingly, a diving bird does not suffocate only due to the special structure of the nasal septum. In it, the air flow slows down, and therefore the catcher does not even notice that he is rushing at great speed.