Crossword Genius

Crows and snakes found around The States (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

boasts

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'crows' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'snakes found around the states' is the wordplay.
'snakes' becomes 'boas' (boa is a kind of snake).
'found' becomes 'setup' (found can mean to set up or establish).
'around' means to look at the middle letters.
'the states' becomes 's' (this might be a standard abbreviation of which I'm unaware).
The middle of 'setup' is 't'.
'boas'+'t'+'s'='BOASTS'

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for boasts that I've seen before include "crows" , "Blows one's own trumpet" , "Brags, blows" , "Brags in praise of oneself" , "Brags, shows off" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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