Comments on: Independent on Sunday 1,121 by Hypnos

By: superkiwigirl

superkiwigirl — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 14:12:59 +0000

Hi Cumbrian,

What an interesting line of enquiry.

The link with “paying through the nose” sounds convincing to me, as it appears that the first rhino to make it to Britain only arrived in 1683. I am fond of a painting by the Venetian artist Pietro Longi called “Clara the Rhinceros” dating from 1751 (part of a series that he did depicting typical scenes of contemporary life in Venice). In this case the rhino is being viewed by an audience in the manner of a circus attraction, so even by the mid 18th C they were presumably still pretty much of a novelty in Europe.

By: Cumbrian

Cumbrian — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 13:38:06 +0000

Googling rhino with money successfully threw up that rhino is indeed a very ancient term for money, along with this example:

Some, as I know,
Have parted with their ready rhino.

The Seaman’s Adieu (1670)

There’s also a suggestion that it’s linked with the origin of “paying through the nose”, which seems reasonable as I’m not sure that the fearsome ungulate would’ve been widely known in 17th century England, whereas rhino- as in nose may well have been. The question now is which came first – rhino = money, or paying through the nose leading to money=rhino?

By: superkiwigirl

superkiwigirl — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 12:55:56 +0000

Thanks Cumbrian for pointing out the pangram.

I’m kicking myself for missing it after all the recent examples in both the Indy and Guardian!

By: Cumbrian

Cumbrian — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 12:11:37 +0000

Thanks for the puzzle and the blog. 21d only yielded when I spotted the need for a J to finish the pangram; even then I tried forcing Java to fit the clue, having abandoned Cava. I’d never heard of a EURO as a type of marsupial, nor money as RHINO (which I tried in desperation as the only combination of letters I could think of to fit and confirmed with the check button). Googling resolved euro, but not rhino.

By: superkiwigirl

superkiwigirl — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:31:52 +0000

Many thanks Uncle Yapp for your usual fine blog – I always find this entertaining as well as informative. I’m delighted to learn that you are able to continue blogging the IOS puzzle (though having been given an insight on Tuesday into your working method I wonder how you can find the time!) In any event, another well earned glass of Glen Morangie I’d say.

This was the usual fine puzzle from Hypnos too I thought – not too difficult, but plenty of good clues (I particularly liked STEWARDESS, DAY OF ACTION and MARCO POLO). I needed the blog for the explanation of MARSUPIAL, though, as I haven’t come across “euro” in this context before (strange that a kiwi wouldn’t have picked up on a joke involving the Australians – must be because in this instance they weren’t the butt of the jest!)

And now back to yesterday’s Araucaria, which is still refusing to yield!

By: Tokyo Colin

Tokyo Colin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 04:36:24 +0000

Many thanks Uncle Yap for the usual comprehensive and meticulous blog. Since I solve everything online (not many English papers at my local newsagent), this arrived at my 9 a.m., just in time to keep me from dozing off during my post morning run lie-down. I know what it is like to run in KL but for 2 months of the year it is worse in Tokyo where sunrise is still before 5 a.m. and it is 30C by 6:30.

Fortunately this was gentle and amusing. My favourite was SIZE.

At 16dn you comment that a EURO is also a wallaroo. I would suggest that since the Common Wallaroo has been known by that name for a very long time, that it would be fairer to say that a EURO is also a unit of currency. It reminds me of the jest at the time as to why the French, Germans et al were naming their new currency after an Australian marsupial.

And to be pedantic, the euro is a macropod, the same family as kangaroos, but is one of several species of wallaroo, a different genus.