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Greetings from the bottom of the class. (Will Hay's joke was: go to the bottom of the class boy: sir I am at the bottom of the class; well go to the top and remember you're a lap behind).

The thematic clues needed solving without cross-checking and I struggled but thanks to the help of the Forum I managed to complete.

However I cannot parse the first 'other clue'. what is the group contracted. Any help appreciated

It’s cre(w)

Contracted as in short.

Thought this was ok, not as good as Malvas last which was the coloured birds, which was very good. Grid took me an hour and a bit, endgame a frustrating two hours. Not helped by being unfamiliar with Colin, and the final answer being a falcon. Finally got there.

Only unresolved for me is 'humourless madam ...'. is a pom or a mop a humourless madam?

Thanks

Po- humourless
M- madam

Doubled up- POM repeated

Aah, that makes sense now, thanks.

Many thanks (d....)
Makes sense now

A very belated thought: does anyone else (if anyone else is still reading this thread) think that 'pallid' would be a valid 7th word?

Would that work with the first unclued answer?

Sorry,I meant the first thematic answer.

After a quick Google I think it could. Indeed “gentle” applies just to the female while “pallid” is a *common* name that applies to a whole species as do the other substitute words.
http://globalraptors.org/grin/researchers/uploads/476/pallid_1982.pdf
Too late to change my entry now......