XIMENES CROSSWORD No. 686

FEMALE

1.  Mrs L. Jarman (Brough): Like Eve—(“Me with only one ragged leaf to wiggle about in!”) (anag. incl. me).

2.  A. J. Young (Gravesend): Bird having worm inside’s not proverbially early, though (3 mngs.; worm = thread of screw).

3.  T. E. Sanders (Walsall): One such as does sin in Paris in payment for professional services! (mal in fee; does, animals).

H.C.

R. B. Adcock (N5): Race as of old, displaying style and no ordinary stamina (2 mngs.; race (obs.) = sex; style, stamens in plants).

C. Allen Baker (Milnathort): I’ve got what it takes to lead fellows on—and then drive ’em to drink! (f ’em ale, & lit.).

Rev C. M. Broun (Edinburgh): She made up leaf to clothe retiring first person (me (rev.) in anag.; Eve).

Capt A. G. B. Griffith (Winchester): Young producer never seen on stage during Journey’s End (cryptic def.; all-male cast).

K. W. G. Hopkins (Wednesfield): Old-world fair—one concerned with eggs and milk production (cryptic def.; fair (obs.) = woman).

F. G. Illingworth (Worcester): “Me leaf’s slipped!” spake Eve! (anag.; spake = described).

M. J. Lanchester (W5): An old-time chattel that has got round to hit back now (lam (rev.) in fee, & lit.).

Mrs W. J. Mahood (Bangor, Co. Down): Fig leaf round me, in fancy dress; I am Eve (anag.; fig = arrange).

D. P. M. Michael (Newport): Irresistible Parisienne? Not me—fat, plain Englishwoman! (fem(me fat)ale).

C. J. Morse (SW10): Even a woman slightly scorned has to hit back in return! (lam (rev.) in fee).

M. Newman (Hove): Screw-threaded inside, as Swan pens are (2 mngs.).

S. L. Paton (Orton Longueville): The first signs of extensive fashion alterations leave me broke! (anag. of initial letters and me, & lit.).

R. Postill (Jersey): The chap with the iron’s socketed—not what we expect in the Walker Cup! (Fe male, 2 defs.).

A. Robins (Manchester): Me a fellow? That’s baseless—quite wrong! (anag. less low, & lit.).

J. E. Smith-Wright (SW3): Sex? Am backward and feel a bit awkward about it (am (rev.) in anag.).

H. S. Tribe (Sutton): Like a bird that starts fresh every morning and lays eggs (initial letters).

C. E. Williams (Purley): Puzzle! Does Dutch witch sow sultanas? Six of them! And this applies to them all (6 words signifying females; puzzle² (see pucelle)).

RUNNERS-UP

F. D. H. Atkinson, C. O. Butcher, R. N. Chignell, P. M. Coombs, N. C. Dexter, Mrs D. M. D’Eath, J. H. Eyre, A. L. Freeman, E. Gomersall, C. P. Grant, S. B. Green, R. W. Jakeman, A. H. Jones, P. P. Kemp, C. Koop, Mrs R. D. Lemon, J. D. H. Mackintosh, Mrs E. McFee, M. McSevich, W. G. Mowforth, Miss M. J. Patrick, G. H. Ravenor, N. J. Reed, Mrs J. Robertson, H. Rotter, R. E. Scraton, E. O. Seymour, Mrs E. Shackleton, W. K. M. Slimmings, L. H. Stewart, R. Stoddart, L. T. Stokes, F. B. Stubbs, Miss D. W. Taylor, E. R. L. Timbrell, Capt C. Tyers, G. R. Webb, J. F. N. Wedge, Maj J. P. A. Wildey, H. Wright.
 

COMMENTS:—318 entries, 287 correct. This seems to have been a remarkably ordinary competition in every way, and I have few comments to make. The word set might at first sight have seemed likely to produce many daring and scintillating sallies, but it was in fact not an easy word, and I think you did well to produce so many good clues; nor did the censor have much work to do. I am glad we have now had three competitions running with no major disaster in solving.
 
I hope you will not “spot the theme” too easily (as many of you did last time) on March 18. As it is not a competition puzzle, I should be interested to read your comments about it along with your next entries (or before, if you feel like writing).