In article <Pine.LNX.4.61.0501301625190.29793 / wobblini>,
 "David A. Black" <dblack / wobblini.net> wrote:

> > irb(main):001:0> (2**30 - 1).type
> > => Fixnum
> > irb(main):002:0> (2**30).type
> > => Bignum
> 
> What version of Ruby are you using?  In recent Rubies you'll get a
> warning:
> 
>    "".irb(main):001:0> "".type
>    (irb):1: warning: Object#type is deprecated; use Object#class
>    => String

v1.6.8, which shipped with Mac OS X.  That happened to be the machine I 
was using at that moment.  If it makes you happier substitute "class" 
for "type" in the irb session I showed.  I don't think it changes the 
explanation.

--paul