BARE BONES

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.618, 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.617 is Robert Bowe, Ballymun Road, Dublin 9.

Across

1 One being silly when just out of sight (Three words) 10 Leave as a group is performing 11 And a gnu, fresh from Kampala 12 Firm with new prison inmate 13 Contrition concerning the use of dashes and dots 15 Anxious to return missing first course 17 Block woman with energy and spirit 21 Sure murderer would take Perth to have no borders 25 A sign of sole ownership 26 Italian sculptor seen in brine solution 27 Energy supplier to respond with gold 28 Be a photographer to understand a situation (Three words)

Down

2 A lot of paper gets left in field 3 Beneath French and German articles 4 Getting caned, sadly, is routine 5 Harass an animal used for hunting 6 British fool makes alloy 7 Uncovered with force by elbow 8 Centre of Blair’s hiding place 9 It gets tied at speed 14 Regard for the diocese 16 Second person to sound like a sheep 17 Recess accommodates British youngster 18 New rose hybrid is Scandinavian 19 TV presenter needs one to get a lift 20 Chosen the Spanish tie design 21 Dog seen around old Republican soldier 22 Criticise a Sunday lunch 23 Change comes out of real terror 24 One Roman hides one of his emperors