speccie 2023

[mrcroft]

Please ignore last request, I have used my own brain both to correct my errors and deduce the correct solution. Having said that PHILISTINE was achievable with unreferenced parts to ONLY 4 clues plus the L in BAILIFF
3d PHI, 25ac I, (L), 29ac S, 31d TINE, so what was the point of the other FOUR -
16ac H, 34ac I, 36ac N and 38ac E

[nilesquimby]

Mrcroft........all the missing letters were there....it definitely all made sense!

Without the clues (I can't remember them) I can't explain the other clues.

[nilesquimby]

And clearly for actual solving, 4 of the across or down missing letters are common to both.