my $ref = [ $foo -> bar( $stuff) ];

##</code><code>##

C:\test>p1
sub x1{ my @a; $a[ $_ ] = $_ for 1 .. 1e6; return @a };;

print time; $r = [ x1() ]; print time;;
1229112810.36413
1229112815.5985

##</code><code>##

C:\test>p1
sub x2{ my @a; $a[ $_ ] = $_ for 1 .. 1e6; return \@a };;

print time; $s =  x2(); print time;;
1229112742.05163
1229112742.43096