BARE BONES

no.583

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins Pocket Thesaurus. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No.583, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must arrive by Friday (photocopies not accepted). The winner of Bare Bones No.582 is Ms Breda Hynes, Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare.

Across

1 Stroganoff ingredient gets a complaint 4 Hear about bishop getting a course of treatment 7 Appealing to remove end of article 9 Dog really has captured a monster 10 Risking removing first three items of jewellery 11 Internal supporter of foul nature 12 Predator, to you and me, is a sign of spring 13 Use of needle causes sharp pain 14 Speak at great length of a batter cake 18 Wonderful to get Spanish article, like a cat 20 Wise men unite graduate with soldier 21 Attorney takes sheep to see play 22 Communication in a set of letters 23 Officers’ room in an untidy state 24 Struggle to get iron into thin sheet 25 Stagger to see a film

Down

2 Keen to agree to change 3 European cooks fast food side dish (Two words) 4 Type of puzzle concerning transport 5 Robbery is the new arrangement 6 Fake coach has to go back 7 Vegetable makes dog bloom, by the sound of it 8 Pick-me-up, usually after a gin 15 A portal made of stone 16 Give purpose to old wife 17 Fracas about losing a fashion accessory 18 Fellow finds haven to show talent 19 Courage is never out of sorts