saga Crossword Feb 2007.

[patsyann]

27 across. Avoiding South island-tiger on the loose,with distinctive stripes. (4 -6)R?n? T???e?. I think it is ring tailed but cannot work out why?
26 down. one retired,retreating from a jackal.(4) ???b
5 down about to be restrained mounting a camel.(4)
o?n?
These answers will complete my puzzle.Would appreciate help.

[wired]

27a, ring tailed anagram of tiger + island without the s for south.

[johnalex]

27a Ring Tailed . . . . anag 'island tiger', without 'S'

[kettledrum]

5d oont - on = about - with 'to' restraining it - mounting = upwards.

[Muffet]

oont dieb

[Phil7]

Where did you find "dieb", Muffet? I searched all combinations of "bed" backwards with an "i" (and an "a").

[patsyann]

I was just going to ask the same question cannot find it anywhere.

[kettledrum]

It's in Chambers.

[patsyann]

Thank you all for helping.Would never have solved the jackal question as I don't have a Chambers dictionary.

[kettledrum]

Patsyann, if you do any crosswords that use slightly obscure words you really ought to think about getting a copy of Chambers. All the major serious compilers use it, and I think it's fair to say that unless you're told otherwise (proper names etc) all answers can be found in it.

Treat yourself! It will transform your crosswording experience!

[kettledrum]

Another book you might find useful (It also gives dieb) is Bradford's Crossword Solvers Dictionary.
ISBN 0-00-716922-1
Mine is the 5th edition 2003 and cost �10.99

The Chambers Dictionary - 10th edition 2006
ISBN 0-550-10185-3 �35.00

[Phil7]

Hi, KD, do you mean "book" as in cardboard, paper & ink???

I couldn't find "dieb" in Chambers Reference Online.

[NILYA]

Thank you, Kettledrum, for your answer to 5d - oont.
It was my last unsolved clue.
However, I am wondering how it relates to a camel, or am I missing something??
As a matter of interest to others, I found dieb in onelookdictionary, then Googled 'dieb>jackal' , and the first answer confirmed it.

[kettledrum]

Phil, I mean book like you buy at a bookshop - or probably cheaper on Amazon.
I can't recommend the actual physical dictionary - cardboard, paper and ink ! - highly enough. It really is essential kit for the serious crossword solver.

[kettledrum]

Nilya, Chambers definition: in India, a camel.

It also is mentioned under camel in Bradford's Crossword Solvers Dictionary.

[NILYA]

Thank you, Kettledrum. Since my question, I have Googled
'oonts', and found it in a poem by Rudyard Kipling. It also appears in 'answers.com'. Thanks again.

[NILYA]

Obviously, I didn't go far enough!! I have now just found it in the Collins English Dictionary I have loaded in my computer!!!