12.29.09 -- The Birds

The Birds, final scene, 1963 film by Alfred Hitchcock 

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Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Puzzle by Peter A. Collins, edited by Will Shortz

BIRDS (46D. Things hidden in the answers to this puzzle’s six starred clues) and DOVE, TERN, WREN, OWL, RAVEN and HERON within ROLLED OVER (16A. *Did a dog trick), MISTER NICE GUY (22A. *One who’s often doing favors), LOW RENT (36A. *Affordable, as an apartment), TOW LINE (38A. *Tugboat rope); BRAVE NEW WORLD (46A. *Aldous Huxley novel), ANOTHER ONE (57A. *(Bar patron’s request for a refill) and NESTS (25D. Homes for 46-Down) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.

There are two nine-letter entries, FIXED COST (33D. Salaries, e.g., to a business owner), VOLUME TWO (3D. “B,” maybe, in an encyclopedia), and two six-letter entries, AUSSIE (31A. Shrimp-on-the-Barbie eater), ICIEST (41A. Most dangerous, as winter roads), with the remainder being five letters or less.

Five -- ABODE (6D. “Humble” dwelling) and ABOVE (14A. Outranking); ALEVE (27A. Tylenol alternative); 44A. “You can’t teach AN OLD dog …”; ANCON (31D. Cornice support), a projecting bracket that is used in classical architecture to carry the upper elements of a cornice, also known as a console; AVAST (44D. Salt’s “Halt!”); AW MAN (48D. “Gimme a break!”); 12D. BETSY Wetsy (old doll); BLESS (45A. Sprinkle holy water on); CADET (5D. Officer-to-be); CAGEY (5A. Shrewd); 62A. Al DENTE (pasta order); EINEN (37D. German indefinite article); ERI TU (11D. Verdi aria); 26D. IDIOT-proof (easy to operate); IOWAN (51A. Hawkeye State native); 15D. San MATEO (Bay Area county); OCHER (50D. Autumn shade); RETAG (10D. Mark down for a sale, say); ROARS (47D. Zoo noises); SATYR (65A. Mythical lecher); SCREW (21D. Hinge holder); STATS (21A. Rebounds, shooting); UTILE (32D. Of service); WITTY (49D. Quick with the zingers).

Short stuff -- ADS, ARLO, ASTI, ATIT, BRIE, CUR, DRAT, EBON, EDW, ELSE, ENL, ETON, EVE, FOP, GOV, IBOS, ICI, IVOR, JERK, JIVE, KSU, LED, LOLL and LOON (28D. Nut case), not the bird, MERE, NEA, ONO and ONT, ONES, OXEN, PENS, RAE, RAMS, REB, REIN, ROTO, RPS, SSN, UNTO, YER.

The Birds is Coming! 

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Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. Hipster’s jargon; 10. Yank’s foe; 13. Black, to bards; 15. “A ___ bagatelle!”; 18. Toiling away; 19. The Wildcats of the Big 12 Conf.; 20. Took charge; 30. ___-Rooter; 33. Fancy dresser; 40. “Bed-in” participant Yoko ___; 43. Pullers in pairs; 52. “___ on parle français; 53. Mangy mutt; 56. Door-busting equipment; 61. “Dang it!”; 63. Italian wine region; 64. ID with two hyphens; 66. School attended by 007. Down: 1. So-and-so; 2. Nigerian natives; 4. Photo lab abbr.; 7. White House Web address ending; 8. Eden exile; 9. “___ out!” (ump’s call); 17. Additional; 23. Songwriter Novello; 24. Rotational speed meas.; 27. Guthrie who sang about Alice’s Restaurant; 34. Leftmost compartment in a till; 35. Parker products; 39. Lounge around; 42. Part of P.E.I.: Abbr.; 45. Creamy cheese; 54. “Render ___ Caesar …”; 55. Horse halter; 57. PC pop-ups; 58. Teachers’ org.; 59. Neighbor of Que.; 60. Singer Corinne Bailey ___.