CROSSWORD 986: Constellation by Mass

A first prize of 120 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 opened on 10 December. Entries to: Crossword 986, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LL.

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The other unclued lights (with two hyphens disregarded) are suggested by 22 Across.

Name Address Dictionary prizes are sent out by the 'Post-a-Book' service. ACROSS 4 Birds, maybe tits, flew South (9) 11 Abyssinian king's spiced sherry 12 ammer — beetle — a very old instrument (7) 15 Info I caught, referring to DNA unit (5) 16 Grub in peel — too ripe, turning (6) 21 Note reportedly secure outwork (8) 24 Insect bite — back (4) 25 Gangster in US bonnet! (4) 27 Offend morally, then wax pure

(7)

33 Rest from awful throes (6) 34 Jots letter from Cos on Sunday (5) 35 Firearm left in current (5) 38 Ice particles from rivage, main- ly, breaking up (5) 40 Relation from N.C. received by judge (9) 41 Henry dropped round for cut of meat (5) DOWN 1 Commander forms liaison, merges (13) 2 New Englander initially turned up in a flap (6) 3 Double wound inside Indian tunic (6) 4 Such may cure pot addict? (6) 5 One bird up river-valley (4) 6 Forte playing, producing scales

(7)

7 Waterproof stuff, large quantity, not a short measure (5) 8 Shoot, about hour, making crime film? (8) 10 Fish, clams, reek badly on hot boat (13, hyphened) 13 Duster needs light on (7) 17 Scientist's initial delay describ- ing constellation (6) 18 Misses erratic earthquakes (6) 19 New alert editor made changes

V'

20 birds, about 500, large numbers (6) 23 Tipsy lot on ale without excep- tion, as before (8, three words 26 Flower from base climbed (7, hyphened) 29 Cross, doctor, over row (6) 30 Arab chiefs elegant, it's said (6) 32 Old halfpenny post, English (5) 36 Some pelf is concealed in purse (4)