CROSSWORD 952: As simple by Doc

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 opened on 17 April. Entries to: Crossword 952, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LL

17

___

L3 ■ ...e■ n 7 8 10

12

a20

21

22

23

27 28 29

33

s.

ill

32

36

37

38

42

43

Each of the unclued lights features a particular progress on, which is different in each case. Correc identification of these progress- ions will preclude all apparent alternative solutions.

Name Address Dictionary prizes are sent out by the 'Post-a-Book' service. ACROSS 1 The outer ear opposite to the crown (8) 9 Hitch about European leader of rebellion coming in once more for forfeit (10, hyphened) 14 Series rating (3) 16 Sterility in the female skunk and backward sloth (6)

17 Rash start to Sunday — takes no food (5)

18 Coin of gold standard (5) 20 Push cask back for fruit (7, hyphened) 22 Choke left out — odd (7) 25 Reversing Kitty's boat (5) 26 System of weights and clubs' collection of tips (5) 28 Difficulty backing expert joiner? 31

Bird's salient make-up (7)

33 Mixed fabric showing mountain flower around top of Eiger (7) 37 Peculiar name: one strait (5) 38 He leads research of great English treasury (5) 39 In France he enters trek wildly, being in good condition (6) 40 Indian nurse: first-class one (3) 41 Stop it! Endless formality of a recluse (10) 42 Onerous assessor's job (6) DOWN I Serviceable trough gutted during high jinks brings gratitude (13, two words) 3 Scottish hills applied to Major's predecessor (6) 4 Old characters go up and overact

(5)

6 Confines: alternately, it's said

(7)

7 Sheep and a variety of poultry (6) 8 The elegance of US city with no past (4) 12 Do manoeuvring — at West- minster? (13, two words) 15 Important figure in a state (7) 19 Appoints teachers' leader re- ordering artist – materials (9, two words) 23 Selfish action causing 38 con- stant upset (7, hyphened) 27 War-clubs: take 37 out (7) 29 East Germany — awfully nice like paradise! (6) 32 A jolly tune first for the RAF (6, hyphened)

34 In Leningrad a charming home (5)

35 Dwarfish person once astray (5) 36 Inquirer, we hear, for Japanese deer (4)