Theme: Charles Darwin

by Roy Arnott & Ken Greatorex

64 grid

(click on the grid to enlarge and print it off)

STANDARD CLUES

ACROSS:
1. & 4 across & 6 across: Charles Darwin’s Birthday [7, 2, 8]
4. See 1 across
6. See 1 across
9. Member of the genus Ficus [3]
11. & 12 across & 14 across: Naturalist whose similar views on evolution prompted Darwin to publish his theory [6, 7, 7]
12. See 11 across
14. See 11 across
15. Christian prayer involving beads [7]
17. Plentiful [8]
18. Lizard seen by Darwin in the Galapagos Islands in distinct land and marine species [6]
20. Sharpen [4]
21. & 22. Across: Grandfather to Charles and noted natural philosopher, physiologist and slave-trade abolitionist [7, 6]
22. See 21 across
25. Emphatic election win [9]
27. Feudal labourer [4]
28. Pre-industrial timer [9]
29. & 30 across: Darwin’s cousin, whom he married [4, 8]
30. See 29 across
35. & 36 across & 38 across: On the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ , published in November 1859 by Charles Darwin is considered to be the foundation of evolutionary biology [6, 2, 6]
36. See 35 across
38. See 35 across
40. Great controversy resulted (and persists) over Darwin’s claim that Man shares ancestry with these [4]
43. & 44 across: Process elucidated by Darwin; useful heritable traits pass to succeeding generations, replacing less useful traits [7, 9]
44. See 43 across
50. Earth / water mixture [3]
51. That which is owed [4]
53. Place of concealment for a bird watcher [4]
55. Gradual process in which something changes into a different and usually more complex or better form [9]
57. Buoyant platform [4]
59. By mouth [4]
61. Transmit [4]
63. Adjustable ring in camera or eye [4]
65. Insect [3]
67. Granular, usually siliceous substance [4]
69. Was in charge of operations [3]
70. & 72 across: Irish cleric who put the date of Earth’s creation at 4004 BC [6, 6]
72. See 70 across
73. Look steadily [4]
74. Regret [3]
76. Centimetre-gram-second unit of work or energy [3]
77. & 78 across & 80 across: “Darwin’s Bulldog” [6, 5, 6]
78. See 77 across
80. See 77 across
82. Widely cultivated bean plant [4]
84. Preserved remains of a prehistoric organism [6]
85. & 89 across & 90 across: Palaeontologist, evolutionary biologist and popular science writer (d 2002). Typical quote: “There is no such thing as a fish” [7, 3, 5]
89. See 85 across
90. See 85 across
91. Darwin’s birthplace [10]
92. British survey ship on which Darwin undertook a five year voyage of discovery [6]
DOWN:
2. Commemorative garlands [7]
3. Ancestors [9]
5. More serious than a misdemeanour [6]
7. Boasted [7]
8 & 32 down: “Darwin’s great enemy”, founder of London’s Natural History Museum, namer of many early dinosaurs [7, 4]
9. “Darwin’s _ _ _ _ _ _ _”; about fifteen species of bird native to the Galapagos Islands, varying markedly in beak size and shape but otherwise similar [7]
10. Island group whose fauna greatly influenced Darwin’s thinking [9]
13. Tendon [5]
16. Early evolutionist who invented the word “biology”. He thought that characteristics an organism develops during its lifetime in response to its environment could be inherited by its offspring [7]
17. Mountain range [5]
19. Permit [5]
23. The specific frequency of a wave lying within the radio portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (abb) [2]
24. Appellation [4]
26. Formerly having the name [3]
27. Deliberate malicious destruction within a workplace setting [8]
31. Relies [7]
32. See 8 down
33. Distinct periods of history [4]
34. Invertebrate much studied by Darwin while at Down House [9]
37. Obese [3]
39. University where Darwin failed to earn a degree in divinity [9]
41. Printer’s measure [2]
42. More secure [5]
45. Ratite birds [4]
46. Stringed instrument [4]
47. University where Darwin failed to earn a medical degree [9]
48. Second largest order of mammals (after the rodents) [4]
49. The greater part of the Beagle’s voyage occurred in the _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ hemisphere [8]
52. The medium in which the La Brea fossils occur [3]
54. Darwin’s later home and workplace [4, 5]
56. Dedicatory poems [4]
58. Captain of HMS Beagle [7]
60. Adjustment to prevailing conditions [10]
62. Utilise [3]
64. Chronic disease of the liver usually caused by alcoholism or hepatitis [9]
66. The remains of the Beagle have been recently located off the coast of this English county [5]
68. Steep-sided gully formed by the action of fast-flowing water in otherwise arid desert [6]
71. That which is hunted for food [4]
75. See 54 down
77. A porous limestone [4]
79. Tear [3]
81. Having much foliage [5]
82. One of the many tiny pores in a plant which allow movement of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapour and oxygen in and out of the plant [5]
83. To confuse OR (of an egg) to rot [5]
86. Make a mistake [3]
87. Chop, hack e.g. logs [3]
88. Crux or central argument [3]

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS:
1. & 4 across & 6 across: Wrathful beery toff worked to set up evolutionist natal day [7, 2, 8]
4. See 1 across
6. See 1 across
9. Fruit not given when indifferent [3]
11. & 12 across & 14 across: Air Raid Warden initially evolutionist [6, 7, 7]
12. See 11 across
14. See 11 across
15. Le Patch set up for prayer [7]
17. Tuna band plentiful [8]
18. Reptilian distortion of gold win [6]
20. Element takes one to sharpen [4]
21. & 22. Across: Uses arms moved against eponymous city to find Grandpa connection [7, 6]
22. See 21 across
25. Country slipped East for substantial win [9]
27. Marine wave form sound for farm labourer [4]
28. Desired female figure for old timer [9]
29. & 30 across: Member of potty family for Charles? [4, 8]
30. See 29 across
35. & 36 across & 38 across: Source of lowest taxonomic ranks [6, 2, 6]
36. See 35 across
38. See 35 across
40. Mashed peas for simians [4]
43. & 44 across: The choices of “organic” shoppers? [7, 9]
44. See 43 across
50. Doctor straddles university – it sticks [3]
51. Girl coming out takes time to establish what is owed [4]
53. Animal container is a place out of view [4]
55. No evil out. It can be a gradual process [9]
57. King is at rear of vessel making flotation device [4]
59. Take soothing ointment from Royal residence by mouth [4]
61. Transmit radio traffic found in lessen details [4]
63. Optical flower [4]
65. Insect working group [3]
67. Stained oddly but provides possible cleaning agent [4]
69. Armed service managed operations [3]
70. & 72 across: Sounds like clerical guide setting year zero [6, 6]
72. See 70 across
73. Letter extremes in Germanium for a hard look [4]
74. Regret sounds like a culinary thickener [3]
76. Queen has gravity to form work unit [3]
77. & 78 across & 80 across: Hotly exhume Sharny to find Darwin’s bulldog [6, 5, 6]
78. See 77 across
80. See 77 across
82. Also yaks have beans [4]
84. Preserved remains from Nazi organisation in fencing weapon [6]
85. & 89 across & 90 across: It is punctuated equilibrium he said [7, 3, 5]
89. See 85 across
90. See 85 across
91. Nagging women inter a place for Charles to call home [10]
92. 2nd grade raptor is nothing but a hound dog [6]

DOWN:
2. The wars produce these [7]
3. Ursine leaders family connections? [9]
5. Only iron could be a crime [6]
7. Note dishevelled but big noted [7]
8 & 32 down: Coiner of dinosaur [7, 4]
9. Force x Imperial units is for the birds [7]
10. As gap goal changed place for evolutionary thoughts [9]
13. Silicon novel anatomical structure [5]
16. Ma Clark changes biologist [7]
17. Find mountains in grand escape [5]
19. To let – Resting paddock without force [5]
23. Velocity/wavelength [2]
24. Morning in direction for title [4]
26. Want lacking 500. Born that way [3]
27. The French shoe age is deliberately destructive [8]
31. Relies on dangerous end of pools lacking direction [7]
32. See 8 down
33. Remove sulphur from wise men for specific periods [4]
34. Whom terra changes for this [9]
37. Sofa time can produce this [3]
39. Shaft projection span for seat of learning [9]
41. Em/2 [2]
42. State metal queen is more secure [5]
45. Printer’s measure to America – for the birds [4]
46. Take note from wind instrument to make stringed instrument [4]
47. Move behind rug in Scotland [9]
48. Belfry occupants [4]
49. Take direction for small coin for French tea with the Navy [8]
52. Sounds like little thanks for pitch [3]
54. & 75 down: Done us how for Darwin address? [4, 5]
56. Nightingale had one [4]
58. Beagle’s lions connection [7]
60. Aida not apt but can be a make do [10]
62. Remove sailor from abuse to utilise [3]
64. Or Chris is treated for chronic disease [9]
66. One does not hear of boys from this county [5]
68. Mr Orbison is immersed in Army Routine Orders up a gully [6]
71. Sounds like supplicate for quarry [4]
75. See 54 down
77. Limestone from the odds of true fear [4]
79. Torn but at peace [3]
81. Clearing in the wood at financial year produces foliage [5]
82. Abdominal organ truncated to provide plant pores [5]
83. Add lemons to produce rotten eggs [5]
86. Make a mistake with Eastern Rolls Royce [3]
87. We hear Welshman gets the chop [3]
88. Take back food item. It is the heart of the matter [3]

SOLUTION