Ah... good point. Perls auto vivification has obviously let me silently access one element past the end of the real array in that example. I normally use $#array but recently had to use @_ as $#_ was causing a syntax error (it was wickedly twisted code). I had thus far *failed* to note the difference.

Thanks very much. I have added a correction to previous post with appropriate credit of course.

On more pearl of wisdom duly filed

tachyon