Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

1096 looms, and I'm still stuck on one or two in 1095. 6d looked like "harbour wall" (but couldn't make out why), but noe second letter of second word needs to be E. Think 31d is "stratum" or "stratus", but can't make that fit with 45a - no Irish 5-letter counties starting with s or m. And, lastly, 55a - probably goatee (because of the hairy bit), but can't parse it. Any last minute help appreciated.

Clues?

Harbour Seal
Stratus
Shire
Goatee (Go A Tee)

Parsing for a couple more, not sure about Harbour Seal at the moment.

Stratus - Starts over (bottom to top) is strats fences (encloses) U(nder) initially.

Shire - SHE with IR (Ireland) inside. A shire county.

Harbour seal

Retreats with trees Arbours
Restore (Houses = around) - Heal

Stratus

Jumps - Starts - reversed - (fences = inclusion) under initially 'U'

OK. I've parsed Harbour Seal now.

A harbour seal is also known as the common seal and lives near coastlines.

An ARBOUR is a garden alcove (retreat?) with the walls and roof formed by trees. Retreats as the plural gives ARBOURS.

To restore is to HEAL.

So HEAL houses (encloses) ARBOURS.

Thanks forester and mamya. Just that I'd never heard of a harbour seal. Parsing 55a still leaves me wondering where the West Indian comes into it. But, hegh-ho ... it's on with 1096. Have good weekend ... mine will be mostly devoted to avoiding football !!

Goa - district of India

Blindingly obvious. Thanks.