Local paper

[elcee45]

14d Branch of biology that deals with plants and animal life (7)
- O - L - G -
Is this Zoology?

[Catron]

Yes

[elcee45]

Thanks Catron

[gen2]

NO
===

Zoology is concerned with ANIMALS only (NOT plants)
Botany is concerned with the study of PLANTS (NOT animals)

BIOLOGY is concerned with ALL living things (both animals and plants)

[Catron]

So what is your answer gen2? The question asks for the branch of biology and therefore biology cannot be the answer. LOL.

[elcee45]

Thanks Gen 2 but the letters I have are

- O - L - G _

I did think that Zoology dealt with the animal side of things but what would fit with my letters??
I get the O from main artery of the body AORTA
The L from Circular Coral Reef surrounding a lagoon ATOLL
and the G from National flag dispayed on ships ENSIGN.

[elcee45]

So I take it from this that the clue is not an accurate one. Will watch with interest for the solution next week.

[pbeach]

Looks like a bad clue, all the branches of Biology can be found here:
http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Branc hes_of_Biology
And gen2 is correct....

Only one that might work is ECOLOGY....

But that doesn't fit your letters....

[elcee45]

Thanks for the link pbeach, ecology would have fitted but I think Aorta is correct giving me me the O, I will just to have to wait for the answers next week.

[Catron]

All of this does not change the fact that the only answer that is going to fit is the answer I gave - we all know clues that have not been written correctly but the important thing is what the compiler wants as the answer. All very well saying that an answer does not fit the clue but often a different matter actually giving an answer that fits the letters from other clues. Would I bet that the answer required is zoology? - to the price of a stamp and envelope to enter a competition I certainly would!

[pbeach]

Catron - I am not disagreeing with you. The Telegraph cryptic makes its own collection of mistakes, as we both well know.
Given the letters above and knowing that the letters given were 100% correct then Zoology would be the logical answer because nothing else fits....
I just suggested Ecology as a possible answer for Elcee to cross check.

[Catron]

Oh, I know you are not disagreeing with me, pbeach :-) - it just sometimes annoys me when others state that an answer is wrong without giving an alternative answer and then this puts doubts in the enquirers mind as to whether the answer given is the one wanted by the compiler. Perhaps this is not a competition crossword anyway :-)

[pbeach]

Yep - and there is no question that the main artery of the body is the AORTA.... there is no way I can change that.... so those letters quoted look good. i.e. I can't come up with an answer to that clue that changes the O to a C :-)

[elcee45]

Thanks everybody, it is a prize crossword in the Dunfermline Press.

[Catron]

Ah, that explains it - the compiler was paralytic when writing this clue - sorry for the footballing pun!!

Anyway, I am sorry too for going on a bit - I'll leave you in peace now, you will be glad to hear!!

[elcee45]

LOL Catron.