SPOILER AHOY!

[MrScrooge]

You are correct that @_ will be passed to a subroutine if you call it without using the parenthesis. This is true of both 5.6 and 5.005 at least.

However the result of the attempted assignment of a list to $_ differ depending on Perl version, and this DOES affect the output you will see.

[merlyn]

However the result of the attempted assignment of a list to $_ differ depending on Perl version, and this DOES affect the output you will see.

Perl never attempts to assign a list to $_. Ever.

Understanding is demonstrated when correct phrasing is used. {grin}

-- Randal L. Schwartz, Perl hacker