THE CLEVER CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Plant-sucking, chirping insect (6)

4. Red —-, raccoon-like animal with a bushy, ring-marked tail (5)

6 Individual’s conception of himself (3)

7. City in the Punjab, famous for the Golden Temple (8)

8. Successful deal or stratagem (4)

11. Acid fruit of a tree of the myrtle family (5)

13. Species of large gull (4) 15 Rosette or badge worn at the side of a hat (7)

16. Famous character in the Arabian Nights tales (7)

17. Edward —-, artist, traveller, and writer of nonsense verse (4)

19. A messenger or representative (5)

21. Aromatic, culinary herb (4)

24. Great circle passing through both poles (8)

25. Vessel or vase with rounded body, and often a foot (3)

26. Surname of the writer famous for The Picture of Dorian Gray, etc. (5)

27. Metals such as bronze, brass, gunmetal, pewter, etc. (6)

DOWN

1. Most northerly of the Ionian Islands (5)

2. Site of the great battle at the Day of Judgement (10)

3. —- Loos, author of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (5)

4. Flour paste for ravioli, etc. (5)

5. Ice-free port on Ofot Fiord, Norway (6)

6. A long novel or film (4)

9. Gas forming a layer in the upper atmosphere (5)

10. Card game in which you might be dealt a full house (5)

12. Ball game using a high net (10)

13. One of the cities destroyed by fire and brimstone, in Genesis 19 (5)

14. A confederation of states (5)

18. Colloquially, a quadruped (6)

19. A bird of prey’s nest (5)

20. Strong alcoholic spirit distilled from rye, or potatoes, etc. (5)

22. Anvil-like bone of the middle ear (5)

23. Kind of long-winged sea bird (4)