THE PRIZE CROSSWORD

There’s an amazing £1,500 prize for the first correct solution drawn at random in our general knowledge Prize Crossword. Entries must arrive by Friday, May 27 (photocopies not accepted). Today’s solution will appear next week and the winner’s name on Sunday, June 12. SEE BELOW THE GRID for details on how to enter.

Across

1 French aviator and First World War fighter pilot after whom the French Open tennis tournament and its venue are named (6,6) 8 A fabric, usually silk or linen, with a pattern woven into it (6) 11 --- dove, European bird with a brownish-grey plumage and a black band on the back of its neck (8) 12 Cape ---, the Easternmost point of mainland Australia (5) 13 Large, fast-running flightless bird inhabiting the open plains of southern South America (4) 14 Greek philosopher taught by Socrates; an initiator of Western philosophy (5) 15 A small circular structure for coastal defence (8,5) 17 Thor ---, Norwegian anthropologist who sailed from Peru to the Pacific Islands of Tuamotu in 1947 in a balsa wood raft, the Kon-Tiki (9) 19 A rosaceous tree bearing downy, yellow, juicy edible fruit (7) 23 Something edible fixed to a hook or in a trap to attract fish or animals (4) 24 The steep sheer face of a cliff or crag (9) 25 Patient, long-suffering or submissive in nature (4) 26 Stiff straw hats with straight brims and flat crowns (7) 28 A simultaneous or rapid continual discharge of firearms (9) 31 A figure in one of the parables in Luke’s Gospel and an example of compassion towards those in distress (4,9) 34 Edward ---, English composer whose works include the Enigma Variations (5) 36 A small wooded hollow (4) 37 In circulation or operation (5) 38 The individual characteristics by which a person is recognised (8) 39 William ---, 19th-Century English furniture and textile designer and artist (6) 40 A native or inhabitant of the north-east part of the US (3,9)

Down

2 Peter ---, Anglo-Irish actor who received an honorary Oscar in 2003 for his body of work (6) 3 Small piece of land rented by an individual for cultivation (9) 4 Dan ---, science-fiction comic hero created by Frank Hampson (4) 5 South --- ---, endangered mammal that is part of Chile’s national coat of arms (6,4) 6 The capital city of Morocco (5) 7 A roll of parchment or paper, usually inscribed with writing (6) 8 Australian wild dog, resembling a wolf (5) 9 Italian inventor best known for his development of a radio telegraph system (7) 10 People employed to load or unload ships (10) 16 An evening prayer, service or hymn (6) 18 An epigrammatic Japanese verse form in 17 syllables (5) 20 Spanish dish made from rice, shellfish, chicken and vegetables (6) 21 An Italian variety of cabbage with dark green leaves (6,4) 22 The act or process of bringing or contesting a legal action in court (10) 25 Thomas ---, English Jacobean playwright and poet (9) 27 Informal name for a very small fish or aquatic creature (7) 29 Medium-sized omnivorous monkey, with an elongated muzzle and large teeth (6) 30 --- Howard, a mansion near York, designed in 1699 by Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor (6) 32 John ---, the second President, and a Founding Father, of the US (5) 33 In one’s charge or under one’s influence (2,3) 35 Small duck related to the mallard (4)