| HEDGEHOP | Fly close to the ground gets small mammal almost beginning to panic |
| TERRAIN | The ground gets a bit wetter, raining (7) |
| ANIMA | It is the soul of a mammal, almost (5) |
| BISON | Bovine mammal almost exterminated in North America in the 19th century (5) |
| HEDGE | ___-hop, fly close to the ground (5) |
| COMET | One might fly close to the sun |
| MIDGE | Fly close to ground in fighter jet, heading east |
| ORIGAMI | Almost beginning to accept early Japanese art (7) |
| ESTONIA | In France, is one almost beginning to investigate a country? (7) |
| SALVO | Burst lotion almost beginning to ooze |
| NIGHTCAP | Drink almost beginning to taste better (8) |
| PRESSED | Beginning to panic, fool almost returned in a big hurry |
| PEASOUPER | Beginning to panic as Europe gets disrupted in fog |
| LOWRIDERS | Cars close to the ground, and a hint to the ends of the starred answers |
| DISHTHEDIRT | Newsman in this third ground gets to spread malicious gossip (4,3,4) |
| THICKEN | Husband in charge in Kent ground gets to become firmer (7) |
| PRATTLERS | They gas snakes after beginning to panic (9) |
| CHAPLIN | Funnyman beginning to panic, losing lead in a series (7) |
| PEGASUS | Group of stars beginning to panic, say, like you and me (7) |
| PIEBALD | Horse beginning to panic -- that is plain (7) |
