Enigmatic Variations 1218 Cat by Stick Insect

A cat themed puzzle this week. One that brings mangled presents from eight answers these must be removed before entry. Sounds typical of a cat! These then need to be listed under the grid – I’m not entirely sure I’d want to own this particular cat.

To be honest I wouldn’t want to own any cat, though this one does seem to be a fair example of the species. Perhaps a variant might be to leave deposits in other clues where these are elements of a garden.

The eight amended answers were:

1ac VALGUSES – slug = VAES (at least it saved the lettuce)

12ac CLOSE MOUTHED – mouse = CLOTHED

13ac SHIFTIER – fish = TIER (from a neighbour’s fish pond no doubt)

28ac PATRONS – rat = PONS

42ac EXPATRIATION – rat = EXPIATION

43ac HOGFRAME – frog = HAME (hopefully not a rare example)

8dn THIRDBOROUGH – bird = THOROUGH (It’s never heard of the RSPB)

33dn PLAGUESOME – mouse = PLAGE

So by my reckoning 3 pests and 3 non pests delivered and to be written under the grid. Adding in the garden deposits makes them a pest in my book.

A fun theme all in all and very neatly executed. 11ac was my favourite clue.

Thanks Stick Insect

Key:

Rev. Reverse; * anagram; Underline definition

ACROSS

1 Augustus applies unstable salve for displacement conditions (4)

Gus (Augustus) in (salve)* = VALGUSES {SLUG} VAES

4 Policeman hiding in settee shot US rifle (9)

Cop(Policeman) in (settee)* = ESCOPETTE

11 BBC One release (6)

A(one) + untie (release)

12 Block memorandum of understanding the duke reserved (7)

Close (block) + mou(memorandum of understanding) + the + d (duke) = CLOSE MOUTHED {MOUSE} CLOTHED

13 First he goes crazy about independence, then more evasive (4)

(first h)* about I (independence) = SHIFTIER {FISH} TIER

14 Going west, take a Japanese bevy (3)

Rev. r (take) + a + j (Japanese) = JAR

16 Medal to be sold by National Guard (4)

Go (to be sold) + ng (national guard) = GONG

18 Order of French fawn with end bitten off (6)

De (of French) + creep (fawn) – p = DECREE

19 Lacking source of encouragement, games are few about source of manure (10, two words)

(games are few – e)* = SEWAGE FARM

22 Spiritual lead I found in Falk’s representation (5)

(falk)* around I = KALIF

23 Coin hidden by Hindu robber (4)

Hidden HinDU Robber = DURO

24 Extract from boiling temperature is found in toilet (6)

[T (temperature) + is] in pan (toilet) = PTISAN

26 Slowly, active duty advanced soldier hero’s end (6)

Ad (active duty) + a (advanced) + gi (soldier) + o (hero’s end) = ADAGIO

28 Two men succeeded customers (4)

Pat + Ron (two men) + s (succeeded) = PATRONS {RAT} PONS

29 Tragic thespian’s opening cut back for smoke (5)

(tragic – t)* = CIGAR

32 Set of chemicals roaming about, over and in a state of excitement (10, two words)

(roaming)* + o (over) + up (in a state of excitement) = AMINO GROUP

34 Game that is right for mathematician (6)

Nap (game) + ie (that is) + r (right) = NAPIER

37 Compound money follows potato (4)

Alu (potato) + m(money) = ALUM

38 Result is lost in old court (3)

Issue (result) – is = SUE

39 Kali destroyed each Glaswegian (4)

(kali)* = ILKA

40 Twisting traitor out for politician producing yarn (7)

Gyrating (twisting) – rat (traitor) replaced by mp (politician) = GYMPING

41 Drawing out time, I get immersed in song medley (6)

T (time) + (song)* around I = TOSING

42 Extra piano I arranged entertains tenor’s exile (9)

(extra piano I )* around t = EXPATRIATION {RAT} = EXPIATION

43 Henry’s game for playing structure resisting bending one way (4)

(h+ game for)* = HOGFRAME

 

DOWN

1 In island nation, at least 200 centimes tax as above (5)

VAT (tax) + us (as above – ut supra) = VATUS

2 Drive into water from four points (4)

Four compass points = ENEW

3 Kenya section follows straight dashes (7)

str (straight) + eak (Kenya) + s (section) = STREAKS

5 Ease off the Spanish fish (6, two words)

(ease)* + el (the Spanish) = SEA EEL

6 Stinking gods look to the north (4)

Re. Di (gods) + lo (look) = OLID

7 Little walker about on the top in Scotland moved with speed (7)

Ped (little walker) around ower (on the top in Scotland) = POWERED

8 Constable’s assistant is coming after second hooligan following man in America (8)

Third(after second) + bo (man in America) + rough (hooligan) = THIRDBOROUGH {BIRD} = THOROUGH

9 Gloomy and sober tune I composed (10)

(sober tune I)* = TENEBRIOUS

10 East German’s into stolen, returned sharp instrument (8, two words)

E (east) + G (german) in rev (Looted – stolen) = EDGE TOOL

14 Nightingale’s note advanced wing processes (4)

jug (Nightingale’s note) + a (advanced) = JUGA

15 Infringes rebuilt and purified objects (9)

(infringes)* (REFININGS)

17 Sexy couple recants badly, distraught Perseus is leaving medusoid (10)

(sexy couple recants – Perseus)* = NECTOCALYX

20 Apprentice before legal maturity makes perquisite (8)

App (apprentice) + an age (legal maturity) = APPANAGE

21 Air-driven machine’s a success putting pressure in deep hole (8, two words)

Win (success) + p (pressure) in dump (deep hole) = WIND PUMP

25 Dancing girl covers old King and I in Spanish city (7)

Alma (dancing girl) around [ER (old king – Edward) + I] = ALMERIA

27 Like a vulgar Cockney, I start to swear hard following return of your rheumatoid arthritis (7)

Rev. (Yr (your) + ra(rheumatoid arthritis)) + I + sh (start to swear hard) = ARRYISH (harryish)

30 Attempt to get stomach up with ordinary fibre (6)

Go (attempt) + Revv.(Tum – stomach) + o (ordinary) = GOMUTO

31 A golf tee’s short of time and off the straight at St Andrews (4)

A + g (golf) + tee – t (time) = AGEE

33 Perform endless Shetland violin with two notes – annoying! (5)

Play – y (perform endless) + gue (Shetland violin) + s + me (two notes) = PLAGUESOME {MOUSE} = PLAGE

35 Followed tense play noisily (4)

Ran (followed) + t (tense) = RANT

36 In pain about bones (4)

Re. (ail (pain) + I in) = ILIA