25 APRIL 1992, Page 53

CROSSWORD

A first prize of £20 and two further prizes of £10 (or, for UK solvers, a copy of Chambers English Dictionary — ring the word 'Dictionary') for the first three correct solutions (please, no photocopies) opened on 11 May. Entries to: Crossword 1056, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WCIN 2L1,.

1 2

3

4 5

10 ■ 11

12

III II

5114

Tile

iii

20

21

ill

26

111

1

1

27

it,

17:

ii

29

aka,

130

34

35

a

■ 39

43

The unclued lights (two of two words) are of a kind. Elsewhere ignore two accents.

Name Address Dictionary prizes are sent out by the 'Post-a-Book' service. ACROSS 1 Could be a shark, salmon, crab he cooked (12) 10 Combined operations about narcotic shrub (4) 12 Sensual excellence of national product (10, two words)

14 Operation for old ox (3)

15 Incisive leader of Sunday news- paper extracts (8) 17 Home for one having endless darkness (5) 18 Boorish chap entering sort of joint. Such sauce! (7)

19 gun Swallow6) up dwarf holding new 22 Roun(d grain mixed for mar- joram (6)

24 Print some sunlit hostelries (5) 29 Strange eastern lake (5) 34 The beginnings of system hand- ling outward reconnaissance air- craft navigation (6) 38 Country backing round Hearts in great assemblage (5) 39 Funeral odes on record; one hundred pesewas accepted! (8) 40 The preserve of motorists? (3) 41 Fresh start without mishap and abuse (10, two words) 42 Hans's denial was not on the spot (4) 43 Thinking academic who is weak exchanging florins for pounds. That's about time (12) DOWN 3 Trimming on grass skirts (7) 4 Phenol from lichens having com- pelling centre (5) 6 Lack of a central cylinder and a stone. See! (6) 8 Only fair (4)

9 In a generous way, boy upset charity about time to fast at end of May (12)

11 Perplexed vicar came round last month for plant (8) 13 Erks in combat causing hitch (12, two words ) 16 Extract what is essential from channel (3) 19 Birds well under par (6) 20 Yellow dye from tip of freesias growing up among snow (6) 21 Nasal speech of Aaron I. Hill, broadcasting (10) 23 Insincere Scottish stranger; could be laird (9) 25 Boring Scottish team turning up volume outside (8) 28 Charm or decided taste going topless (7) 30 Once the correct thing that's used in skittles (6)

32 Edible mushroom in mince-pies (3)

33 Artless uprising in this French spa (5) 37 Depend upon a beginner leav- ing? Really! (4)