December 21 solution

()=included, []=excluded

Across: 8. Inland Kaikouras 10. Dad-aist 12. thinner 13. depressed 14. skim-p

15. t-asters 18. Sam-lets 21. Meads 23. I-l(l at e)ase 25. lad-R-one 26. D(ebor)ah

29. Dino-flagellates

Down: 1. mind 2. F-led 3. I-ndigene 4. skate-s 5. pint(a do)s 6. Colin’s 7. Franc(I-N)e

9. scrap(E)s 11. are-na 15. tum-bled 16. stand-in-g 17. s-hire-man 19. M-atabele

20. [Arturo]Tosca[nini] 22. s-Coffs 24. L-adder 27. Roth 28. hose