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NORTH AMERICAN FAUNA 68 



female in estrus, he usually swims belly down and rapidly on the 

 surface (fig. 86) and seldom dives for food. He closely skirts 

 favorite hauling-out rocks, and he may rise high in the water to 

 look onto the rocks, or leave the water to walk quickly about, 

 sniffing the rocks. If he sees a feeding female floating on her 

 back he swims directly to her. He may come up beneath her and 

 attempt to put his forelegs around her chest from behind, his 

 forepaws resting in or near her axillae. Or he may rise up beside 

 her. He may rub and pat her chest, belly, and genital area with 

 his forepaws, or he may nuzzle and appear to sniff them with his 

 nose. If the female is unreceptive, she rolls away from him and 

 pushes him away with her flippers and paws, or snaps at him. 

 Before departing he may snatch whatever food items she has on 

 her chest. 



If she is receptive, the two may roll and frolic together. During 



Figure 86. — Adult males actively searching for estrous females in areas 

 habitually frequented by feeding females often swim belly down rather 

 than in the more usual inverted position. (KWK 1026) 



