object Test { import scala.xml._; def bar(args: Seq[String]) = args match { case Seq(a,b,c,d @ _*) => Console.println("cool!") case _ => Console.println("bah") } def foo(args: List[String]) = Elem(null,"bla",Null, TopScope, (args map {x => Text(x)}):_*) match { case Elem(_,_,_,_,Text("1"),_*) => Console.println("cool!") case _ => Console.println("bah") } def main(args: Array[String]) = { val li = List("1","2","3","4") bar(li) foo(li) } }