Compact crossword - The Scotsman 12/12/13

ACROSS

1 Varies (8)

5 Criticise (coll) (4)

9 Also-ran (5)

10 Bestowed (7)

11 Irascible (12)

13 Songs of praise (6)

14 Coating (6)

17 Eye defect (6,6)

20 Old soldier (7)

21 Girl’s name (5)

22 Wander (4)

23 Traces (8)

DOWN

1 Hebridean island (4)

2 Far off (7)

3 Head of the Navy (5,3,4)

4 Locomotive (6)

6 Game of chance (5)

7 Decently (8)

8 Live within one’s income (4,4,4)

12 Transfer (4,4)

15 Anchorage (7)

16 Vindicate (6)

18 An extremist (5)

19 Banks (4)

Wednesday’s solution

Across: 1 Far-fetched, 7 Enforcer, 8 Rail, 9 White, 10 Ecotype, 12 Secretary bird, 15 Kestrel, 17 Grebe, 20 Lark, 21 Andropov, 22 Paternally.

Down: 1 Finch, 2 Rooster, 3 Each, 4 Caracara, 5 Egret, 6 Dipper, 11 Steerage, 13 Evejar, 14 Barn owl, 16 Tikka, 18 Booby, 19 Aden.