%h = qw( a 1 b 2 ); f(%h); sub f { %h = qw(c 3); # uh oh :-( use Carp; Carp::confess(); } __END__ at /home/davem/tmp/p line 10. main::f("a", "", "b", 3) called at /home/davem/tmp/p line 5 #### at baz.pl line 10. main::f("a", "", "b", "") called at baz.pl line 5