Why does the following occur in Scala 2.9.0.1?
scala> def f(xs: Seq[Either[Int,String]]) = 0
f: (xs: Seq[Either[Int,String]])Int
scala> val xs = List(Left(0), Right("a")).iterator.toArray
xs: Array[Product with Serializable with Either[Int,java.lang.String]] = Array(Left(0), Right(a))
scala> f(xs)
res39: Int = 0
scala> f(List(Left(0), Right("a")).iterator.toArray)
<console>:9: error: polymorphic expression cannot be instantiated to expected type;
found : [B >: Product with Serializable with Either[Int,java.lang.String]]Array[B]
required: Seq[Either[Int,String]]
f(List(Left(0), Right("a")).iterator.toArray)
^
Update: Debilski suggests a better example (not 100% sure this is demonstrating the same underlying phenomenon):
Seq(0).toArray : Seq[Int] // compiles
Seq(Some(0)).toArray : Seq[Option[Int]] // doesn't