SPECTATOR CROSSWORD No. 977

ACROSS 1 Gammer's mass transformation (6).

4 Was the gentle knight puncturing his opponents? (8) 10 Graduate immersed in theme (7).

11 'Hark! from that -- cedar what a burst!' (Arnold) (7)

12 Oom (5, 5).

13 St. Germain soup on, the monkeys' menu? (4) 15 Smith's a regular caveman (7).

17 Reporter's testimony is destined to leave a mark (7)•

19 But he needs to do this to his trousers (7).

21 Bring no grist to this selection (7).

23 Evade the sergeant's command, perhaps (4).

24 Bestowed by 12? No, he would expect fifty- fifty (5; 5).

27 It's idle to, preach economy (7).

28 Morse-play in line is easily broken (7).

29 It has a model 'population (8). DOWN 1 Heather perhaps, for Owen? (9)

2 I am no longer glassy, but I am very patchy (7).

3 Busybody whose labours lead to many a strike (10).

5 Arise in confusion about one battle in another (9).

6 There's nothing in the wee house to give the bird (4).

7 A poor kind of recess, evidently likely to slip (7).

8 How to gain admission to the stage (5).

9 Entice the little one away (4).

14 Does it give a medium light? (6, 4) 16 Pluto swore he was consumed (9). 18 Gist's here for rubberneck (9).

20 They show inflationary tendencies in the feathered world (7).

22 Rotch----on skates, perhaps (3-4).

23 Side-track 23 across with a slight Iddition (5). 25 This Sergeant probably took a hand in a novel arrest (4). '

Two prizes will be awarded: a copy of Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary and a book token for one guinea. They will be awarded to the senders of. the first two correct solutions opened at noon on February 11 and addressed: Crossword No. 977, 99 Cower St., London, WC1.

Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary, New Version, is recommended for Crosswords.

Solution on February 14 Solution to No. 975 on page 15

The winners of Crossword No. 975 are: Miss 1'. Smuutow, 6 Marlbot House Osnaburgh Street, NWI, and Ma. P. FOULARD, 13 Georgia Road■ Thornton Heath.

0