Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

12d "check up on men having second egg to begin with." (7)
M-N-T-R I'm pretty sure is MONITOR, but apart from it meaning "check up on" I can't parse it.

Mo (secobd) nit (egg) O(ther) R(anks) (men)

*second

Thank you Scorpiojo. I didn't see nit as an egg and OR is new to me. I must try to remember it as I'm sure it will come up again.

I'm surprised that you never came across "Nitty Norah, the bug-explorer" - the health visitor who regularly inspected the heads of primary age children for nits - eggs of headlice.