CROSSWORD

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ACROSS

5 US state where the endemic birds include the colourful ‘apapane and the ‘akeke‘e (6) 7 General term (often inaccurate) for birds of the genus Larus (8) 9 Tufted grassy plant of western North America (3, 5) 10 Insect-eating bird of Mexico and south-west USA – the smallest of its kind (3, 3) 11 Internal support structure of an animal (12) 13 Flowering New World grassland plant, related to sunflowers (6) 15 The red-___ wallaby of eastern Australia, which is also known as Bennett’s wallaby (6) 18 Name given to two species of scavenging birds of prey with dark plumage, Coragyps atratus and Aegypius monachus (5, 7)

21 Subfamily of fast-growing, hollow-stemmed grasses (6)

22 Tall coniferous tree of north-western USA (5, 3)

23 The ___ lark is found mainly in the Mediterranean area and can be identified by its thick bill and black neck patch (8)

24 Flowering plants in the genus Lilium (6)

DOWN

1 Term for a freshwater snail with a shell that is coiled in a flat or planispiral fashion (8) 2 Small bushland antelope of eastern and southern Africa (3-3) 3 Charles ___, 19th-century naturalist, explorer and taxidermist (8) 4 See 6 6/4 Small auk, Fratercula arctica, with a colourful bill (8, 6)

7 Protective outer layers grown by many molluscs and gastropods (6)

8 The grub of the dark mottled willow moth is fond of close-cropped turf and is often called the ___ caterpillar (4)

12 New World rodents, notable for their agile running and jumping (4, 4)

14 Large aquatic snake of South America (8)

16 Lake District fell, with views across Derwent Water, the name of which may relate to the area’s former population of wildcats (3, 5)

17 Genus of small, brightly coloured seaslugs (6)

18 Wild feline, Lynx rufus, of North America (6)

19 Inflorescences of short flower stalks, such as those of cow parsley (6)

20 Indonesian island that is home to endemic varieties of rhinoceros, leopard and warty pig (4)