diff --git a/Python/Makefile.in b/Python/Makefile.in
index ba69a605caa..ef5b2efe35e 100644
--- a/Python/Makefile.in
+++ b/Python/Makefile.in
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ OBJS=		\
 		ceval.o cgensupport.o compile.o \
 		errors.o \
 		frozenmain.o \
-		getmtime.o graminit.o \
+		getargs.o getmtime.o graminit.o \
 		import.o \
 		marshal.o modsupport.o mystrtoul.o \
 		pythonmain.o pythonrun.o \
diff --git a/Python/getargs.c b/Python/getargs.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..605cb019575
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Python/getargs.c
@@ -0,0 +1,587 @@
+/***********************************************************
+Copyright 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 by Stichting Mathematisch Centrum,
+Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
+
+                        All Rights Reserved
+
+Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute this software and its
+documentation for any purpose and without fee is hereby granted,
+provided that the above copyright notice appear in all copies and that
+both that copyright notice and this permission notice appear in
+supporting documentation, and that the names of Stichting Mathematisch
+Centrum or CWI not be used in advertising or publicity pertaining to
+distribution of the software without specific, written prior permission.
+
+STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES WITH REGARD TO
+THIS SOFTWARE, INCLUDING ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND
+FITNESS, IN NO EVENT SHALL STICHTING MATHEMATISCH CENTRUM BE LIABLE
+FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES
+WHATSOEVER RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE, DATA OR PROFITS, WHETHER IN AN
+ACTION OF CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS ACTION, ARISING OUT
+OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
+
+******************************************************************/
+
+/* New getargs implementation */
+
+/* XXX There are several unchecked sprintf or strcat calls in this file.
+   XXX The only way these can become a danger is if some C code in the
+   XXX Python source (or in an extension) uses ridiculously long names
+   XXX or riduculously deep nesting in format strings. */
+
+#include "allobjects.h"
+
+
+int getargs PROTO((object *, char *, ...));
+int newgetargs PROTO((object *, char *, ...));
+int vgetargs PROTO((object *, char *, va_list));
+
+
+/* Forward */
+static int vgetargs1 PROTO((object *, char *, va_list, int));
+static void seterror PROTO((int, char *, int *, char *, char *));
+static char *convertitem PROTO((object *, char **, va_list *, int *, char *));
+static char *converttuple PROTO((object *, char **, va_list *,
+				 int *, char *, int));
+static char *convertsimple PROTO((object *, char **, va_list *, char *));
+static char *convertsimple1 PROTO((object *, char **, va_list *));
+
+
+#ifdef HAVE_STDARG_PROTOTYPES
+/* VARARGS2 */
+int getargs(object *args, char *format, ...)
+#else
+/* VARARGS */
+int getargs(va_alist) va_dcl
+#endif
+{
+	int retval;
+	va_list va;
+#ifdef HAVE_STDARG_PROTOTYPES
+	
+	va_start(va, format);
+#else
+	object *args;
+	char *format;
+	
+	va_start(va);
+	args = va_arg(va, object *);
+	format = va_arg(va, char *);
+#endif
+	retval = vgetargs1(args, format, va, 1);
+	va_end(va);
+	return retval;
+}
+
+
+#ifdef HAVE_STDARG_PROTOTYPES
+/* VARARGS2 */
+int newgetargs(object *args, char *format, ...)
+#else
+/* VARARGS */
+int newgetargs(va_alist) va_dcl
+#endif
+{
+	int retval;
+	va_list va;
+#ifdef HAVE_STDARG_PROTOTYPES
+	
+	va_start(va, format);
+#else
+	object *args;
+	char *format;
+	
+	va_start(va);
+	args = va_arg(va, object *);
+	format = va_arg(va, char *);
+#endif
+	retval = vgetargs1(args, format, va, 0);
+	va_end(va);
+	return retval;
+}
+
+
+int
+vgetargs(args, format, va)
+	object *args;
+	char *format;
+	va_list va;
+{
+	return vgetargs1(args, format, va, 0);
+}
+
+
+static int
+vgetargs1(args, format, va, compat)
+	object *args;
+	char *format;
+	va_list va;
+	int compat;
+{
+	char msgbuf[256];
+	int levels[32];
+	char *fname = NULL;
+	char *message = NULL;
+	int min = -1;
+	int max = 0;
+	int level = 0;
+	char *formatsave = format;
+	int i, len;
+	char *msg;
+	
+	for (;;) {
+		int c = *format++;
+		if (c == '(' /* ')' */) {
+			if (level == 0)
+				max++;
+			level++;
+		}
+		else if (/* '(' */ c == ')') {
+			if (level == 0)
+				fatal(/* '(' */
+				      "excess ')' in getargs format");
+			else
+				level--;
+		}
+		else if (c == '\0')
+			break;
+		else if (c == ':') {
+			fname = format;
+			break;
+		}
+		else if (c == ';') {
+			message = format;
+			break;
+		}
+		else if (level != 0)
+			; /* Pass */
+		else if (isalpha(c))
+			max++;
+		else if (c == '|')
+			min = max;
+	}
+	
+	if (level != 0)
+		fatal(/* '(' */ "missing ')' in getargs format");
+	
+	if (min < 0)
+		min = max;
+	
+	format = formatsave;
+	
+	if (compat) {
+		if (max == 0) {
+			if (args == NULL)
+				return 1;
+			sprintf(msgbuf, "%s requires no arguments",
+				fname==NULL ? "function" : fname);
+			err_setstr(TypeError, msgbuf);
+			return 0;
+		}
+		else if (min == 1 && max == 1) {
+			msg = convertitem(args, &format, &va, levels, msgbuf);
+			if (msg == NULL)
+				return 1;
+			seterror(levels[0], msg, levels+1, fname, message);
+			return 0;
+		}
+		else {
+			err_setstr(SystemError,
+			    "old style getargs format uses new features");
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	if (!is_tupleobject(args)) {
+		err_setstr(SystemError,
+		    "new style getargs format but argument is not a tuple");
+		return 0;
+	}
+	
+	len = gettuplesize(args);
+	
+	if (len < min || max < len) {
+		if (message == NULL) {
+			sprintf(msgbuf,
+				"%s requires %s %d argument%s; %d given",
+				fname==NULL ? "function" : fname,
+				min==max ? "exactly"
+				         : len < min ? "at least" : "at most",
+				len < min ? min : max,
+				(len < min ? min : max) == 1 ? "" : "s",
+				len);
+			message = msgbuf;
+		}
+		err_setstr(TypeError, message);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	
+	for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+		if (*format == '|')
+			format++;
+		msg = convertitem(gettupleitem(args, i), &format, &va,
+				 levels, msgbuf);
+		if (msg) {
+			seterror(i+1, msg, levels, fname, message);
+			return 0;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	return 1;
+}
+
+
+
+static void
+seterror(iarg, msg, levels, fname, message)
+	int iarg;
+	char *msg;
+	int *levels;
+	char *fname;
+	char *message;
+{
+	char buf[256];
+	int i;
+	char *p = buf;
+
+	if (iarg == 0 && message == NULL)
+		message = msg;
+	else if (message == NULL) {
+		if (fname != NULL) {
+			sprintf(p, "%s, ", fname);
+			p += strlen(p);
+		}
+		sprintf(p, "argument %d", iarg);
+		i = 0;
+		p += strlen(p);
+		while (levels[i] > 0) {
+			sprintf(p, ", item %d", levels[i]-1);
+			p += strlen(p);
+			i++;
+		}
+		sprintf(p, ": expected %s found", msg);
+		message = buf;
+	}
+	err_setstr(TypeError, message);
+}
+
+
+/* Convert a tuple argument.
+   On entry, *p_format points to the character _after_ the opening '('.
+   On successful exit, *p_format points to the closing ')'.
+   If successful:
+      *p_format and *p_va are updated,
+      *levels and *msgbuf are untouched,
+      and NULL is returned.
+   If the argument is invalid:
+      *p_format is unchanged,
+      *p_va is undefined,
+      *levels is a 0-terminated list of item numbers,
+      *msgbuf contains an error message, whose format is:
+         "<typename1>, <typename2>", where:
+            <typename1> is the name of the expected type, and
+            <typename2> is the name of the actual type,
+         (so you can surround it by "expected ... found"),
+      and msgbuf is returned.
+*/
+
+static char *
+converttuple(arg, p_format, p_va, levels, msgbuf, toplevel)
+	object *arg;
+	char **p_format;
+	va_list *p_va;
+	int *levels;
+	char *msgbuf;
+	int toplevel;
+{
+	int level = 0;
+	int n = 0;
+	char *format = *p_format;
+	int i;
+	
+	for (;;) {
+		int c = *format++;
+		if (c == '(') {
+			if (level == 0)
+				n++;
+			level++;
+		}
+		else if (c == ')') {
+			if (level == 0)
+				break;
+			level--;
+		}
+		else if (c == ':' || c == ';' || c == '\0')
+			break;
+		else if (level == 0 && isalpha(c))
+			n++;
+	}
+	
+	if (!is_tupleobject(arg)) {
+		levels[0] = 0;
+		sprintf(msgbuf,
+			toplevel ? "%d arguments, %s" : "%d-tuple, %s",
+			n, arg == None ? "None" : arg->ob_type->tp_name);
+		return msgbuf;
+	}
+	
+	if ((i = gettuplesize(arg)) != n) {
+		levels[0] = 0;
+		sprintf(msgbuf,
+			toplevel ? "%d arguments, %d" : "%d-tuple, %d-tuple",
+			n, i);
+		return msgbuf;
+	}
+	
+	format = *p_format;
+	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
+		char *msg;
+		msg = convertitem(gettupleitem(arg, i), &format, p_va,
+				 levels+1, msgbuf);
+		if (msg != NULL) {
+			levels[0] = i+1;
+			return msg;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	*p_format = format;
+	return NULL;
+}
+
+
+/* Convert a single item. */
+
+static char *
+convertitem(arg, p_format, p_va, levels, msgbuf)
+	object *arg;
+	char **p_format;
+	va_list *p_va;
+	int *levels;
+	char *msgbuf;
+{
+	char *msg;
+	char *format = *p_format;
+	
+	if (*format == '(' /* ')' */) {
+		format++;
+		msg = converttuple(arg, &format, p_va, levels, msgbuf, 0);
+		if (msg == NULL)
+			format++;
+	}
+	else {
+		msg = convertsimple(arg, &format, p_va, msgbuf);
+		if (msg != NULL)
+			levels[0] = 0;
+	}
+	if (msg == NULL)
+		*p_format = format;
+	return msg;
+}
+
+
+/* Convert a non-tuple argument.  Adds to convertsimple1 functionality
+   by appending ", <actual argument type>" to error message. */
+
+static char *
+convertsimple(arg, p_format, p_va, msgbuf)
+	object *arg;
+	char **p_format;
+	va_list *p_va;
+	char *msgbuf;
+{
+	char *msg = convertsimple1(arg, p_format, p_va);
+	if (msg != NULL) {
+		sprintf(msgbuf, "%.50s, %.50s", msg,
+			arg == None ? "None" : arg->ob_type->tp_name);
+		msg = msgbuf;
+	}
+	return msg;
+}
+
+
+/* Convert a non-tuple argument.  Return NULL if conversion went OK,
+   or a string representing the expected type if the conversion failed.
+   When failing, an exception may or may not have been raised.
+   Don't call if a tuple is expected. */
+
+static char *
+convertsimple1(arg, p_format, p_va)
+	object *arg;
+	char **p_format;
+	va_list *p_va;
+{
+	char *format = *p_format;
+	char c = *format++;
+	
+	switch (c) {
+	
+	case 'b': /* byte -- very short int */
+		{
+			char *p = va_arg(*p_va, char *);
+			long ival = getintvalue(arg);
+			if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
+				return "integer<b>";
+			else
+				*p = ival;
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'h': /* short int */
+		{
+			short *p = va_arg(*p_va, short *);
+			long ival = getintvalue(arg);
+			if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
+				return "integer<h>";
+			else
+				*p = ival;
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'i': /* int */
+		{
+			int *p = va_arg(*p_va, int *);
+			long ival = getintvalue(arg);
+			if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
+				return "integer<i>";
+			else
+				*p = ival;
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'l': /* long int */
+		{
+			long *p = va_arg(*p_va, long *);
+			long ival = getintvalue(arg);
+			if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
+				return "integer<l>";
+			else
+				*p = ival;
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'f': /* float */
+		{
+			float *p = va_arg(*p_va, float *);
+			double dval = getfloatvalue(arg);
+			if (err_occurred())
+				return "float<f>";
+			else
+				*p = dval;
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'd': /* double */
+		{
+			double *p = va_arg(*p_va, double *);
+			double dval = getfloatvalue(arg);
+			if (err_occurred())
+				return "float<d>";
+			else
+				*p = dval;
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'c': /* char */
+		{
+			char *p = va_arg(*p_va, char *);
+			if (is_stringobject(arg) && getstringsize(arg) == 1)
+				*p = getstringvalue(arg)[0];
+			else
+				return "char";
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 's': /* string */
+		{
+			char **p = va_arg(*p_va, char **);
+			if (is_stringobject(arg))
+				*p = getstringvalue(arg);
+			else
+				return "string";
+			if (*format == '#') {
+				int *q = va_arg(*p_va, int *);
+				*q = getstringsize(arg);
+				format++;
+			}
+			else if (strlen(*p) != getstringsize(arg))
+				return "string without null bytes";
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'z': /* string, may be NULL (None) */
+		{
+			char **p = va_arg(*p_va, char **);
+			if (arg == None)
+				*p = 0;
+			else if (is_stringobject(arg))
+				*p = getstringvalue(arg);
+			else
+				return "None or string";
+			if (*format == '#') {
+				int *q = va_arg(*p_va, int *);
+				if (arg == None)
+					*q = 0;
+				else
+					*q = getstringsize(arg);
+				format++;
+			}
+			else if (*p != NULL && strlen(*p) != getstringsize(arg))
+				return "None or string without null bytes";
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'S': /* string object */
+		{
+			object **p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
+			if (is_stringobject(arg))
+				*p = arg;
+			else
+				return "string";
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	case 'O': /* object */
+		{
+			typeobject *type;
+			object **p;
+			if (*format == '!') {
+				format++;
+				type = va_arg(*p_va, typeobject*);
+				if (arg->ob_type != type)
+					return type->tp_name;
+				else {
+					p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
+					*p = arg;
+				}
+			}
+			else if (*format == '?') {
+				inquiry pred = va_arg(*p_va, inquiry);
+				format++;
+				if ((*pred)(arg)) {
+					p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
+					*p = arg;
+				}
+			}
+			else if (*format == '&') {
+				typedef int (*converter) PROTO((object *, void *));
+				converter convert = va_arg(*p_va, converter);
+				void *addr = va_arg(*p_va, void *);
+				format++;
+				if (! (*convert)(arg, addr))
+					return "";
+			}
+			else {
+				p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
+				*p = arg;
+			}
+			break;
+		}
+	
+	default:
+		return "impossible<bad format char>";
+	
+	}
+	
+	*p_format = format;
+	return NULL;
+}
diff --git a/Python/modsupport.c b/Python/modsupport.c
index 826e2858748..ae9a838580b 100644
--- a/Python/modsupport.c
+++ b/Python/modsupport.c
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@ OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 /* Module support implementation */
 
 #include "allobjects.h"
-#include "modsupport.h"
 #include "import.h"
 
 #ifdef MPW /* MPW pushes 'extended' for float and double types with varargs */
@@ -111,345 +110,6 @@ static int countformat(format, endchar)
 }
 
 
-/* Generic argument list parser */
-
-static int do_arg PROTO((object *arg, char** p_format, va_list *p_va));
-static int
-do_arg(arg, p_format, p_va)
-	object *arg;
-	char** p_format;
-	va_list *p_va;
-{
-	char *format = *p_format;
-	
-	if (arg == NULL)
-		return 0; /* Incomplete tuple or list */
-	
-	switch (*format++) {
-	
-	case '(': /* tuple, distributed over C parameters */ {
-		int i, n;
-		if (!is_tupleobject(arg))
-			return 0;
-		n = gettuplesize(arg);
-		for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-			if (!do_arg(gettupleitem(arg, i), &format, p_va))
-				return 0;
-		}
-		if (*format++ != ')')
-			return 0;
-		break;
-		}
-
-	case ')': /* End of format -- too many arguments */
-		return 0;
-
-	case 'b': /* byte -- very short int */ {
-		char *p = va_arg(*p_va, char *);
-		long ival = getintvalue(arg);
-		if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
-			return 0;
-		else
-			*p = ival;
-		break;
-		}
-
-	case 'h': /* short int */ {
-		short *p = va_arg(*p_va, short *);
-		long ival = getintvalue(arg);
-		if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
-			return 0;
-		else
-			*p = ival;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'i': /* int */ {
-		int *p = va_arg(*p_va, int *);
-		long ival = getintvalue(arg);
-		if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
-			return 0;
-		else
-			*p = ival;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'l': /* long int */ {
-		long *p = va_arg(*p_va, long *);
-		long ival = getintvalue(arg);
-		if (ival == -1 && err_occurred())
-			return 0;
-		else
-			*p = ival;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'f': /* float */ {
-		float *p = va_arg(*p_va, float *);
-		double dval = getfloatvalue(arg);
-		if (err_occurred())
-			return 0;
-		else
-			*p = dval;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'd': /* double */ {
-		double *p = va_arg(*p_va, double *);
-		double dval = getfloatvalue(arg);
-		if (err_occurred())
-			return 0;
-		else
-			*p = dval;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'c': /* char */ {
-		char *p = va_arg(*p_va, char *);
-		if (is_stringobject(arg) && getstringsize(arg) == 1)
-			*p = getstringvalue(arg)[0];
-		else
-			return 0;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 's': /* string */ {
-		char **p = va_arg(*p_va, char **);
-		if (is_stringobject(arg))
-			*p = getstringvalue(arg);
-		else
-			return 0;
-		if (*format == '#') {
-			int *q = va_arg(*p_va, int *);
-			*q = getstringsize(arg);
-			format++;
-		}
-		else if (strlen(*p) != getstringsize(arg)) {
-			err_setstr(ValueError, "embedded '\\0' in string arg");
-			return 0;
-		}
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'z': /* string, may be NULL (None) */ {
-		char **p = va_arg(*p_va, char **);
-		if (arg == None)
-			*p = 0;
-		else if (is_stringobject(arg))
-			*p = getstringvalue(arg);
-		else
-			return 0;
-		if (*format == '#') {
-			int *q = va_arg(*p_va, int *);
-			if (arg == None)
-				*q = 0;
-			else
-				*q = getstringsize(arg);
-			format++;
-		}
-		else if (*p != NULL && strlen(*p) != getstringsize(arg)) {
-			err_setstr(ValueError, "embedded '\\0' in string arg");
-			return 0;
-		}
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'S': /* string object */ {
-		object **p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
-		if (is_stringobject(arg))
-			*p = arg;
-		else
-			return 0;
-		break;
-		}
-	
-	case 'O': /* object */ {
-		typeobject *type;
-		object **p;
-		if (*format == '!') {
-			format++;
-			type = va_arg(*p_va, typeobject*);
-			if (arg->ob_type != type)
-				return 0;
-			else {
-				p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
-				*p = arg;
-			}
-		}
-		else if (*format == '?') {
-			inquiry pred = va_arg(*p_va, inquiry);
-			format++;
-			if ((*pred)(arg)) {
-				p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
-				*p = arg;
-			}
-		}
-		else if (*format == '&') {
-			binaryfunc convert = va_arg(*p_va, binaryfunc);
-			void *addr = va_arg(*p_va, void *);
-			format++;
-			if (! (*convert)(arg, addr))
-				return 0;
-		}
-		else {
-			p = va_arg(*p_va, object **);
-			*p = arg;
-		}
-		break;
-		}
-
-	default:
-		fprintf(stderr, "bad do_arg format: x%x '%c'\n",
-			format[-1], format[-1]);
-		return 0;
-	
-	}
-	
-	*p_format = format;
-	
-	return 1;
-}
-
-#ifdef HAVE_STDARG_PROTOTYPES
-/* VARARGS2 */
-int getargs(object *arg, char *format, ...)
-#else
-/* VARARGS */
-int getargs(va_alist) va_dcl
-#endif
-{
-	char *f;
-	int ok;
-	va_list va;
-#ifdef HAVE_STDARG_PROTOTYPES
-
-	va_start(va, format);
-#else
-	object *arg;
-	char *format;
-
-	va_start(va);
-	arg = va_arg(va, object *);
-	format = va_arg(va, char *);
-#endif
-	if (*format == '\0' || *format == ';') {
-		va_end(va);
-		if (arg != NULL) {
-			char *str = "no arguments needed";
-			if (*format == ';')
-				str = format+1;
-			err_setstr(TypeError, str);
-			return 0;
-		}
-		return 1;
-	}
-	
-	f = format;
-	ok = do_arg(arg, &f, &va) && (*f == '\0' || *f == ';');
-	va_end(va);
-	if (!ok) {
-		if (!err_occurred()) {
-			char buf[256];
-			char *str;
-			f = strchr(format, ';');
-			if (f != NULL)
-				str = f+1;
-			else {
-				sprintf(buf, "bad argument list (format '%s')",
-					format);
-				str = buf;
-			}
-			err_setstr(TypeError, str);
-		}
-	}
-	return ok;
-}
-
-#ifdef UNUSED
-
-int
-getlongtuplearg(args, a, n)
-	object *args;
-	long *a; /* [n] */
-	int n;
-{
-	int i;
-	if (!is_tupleobject(args) || gettuplesize(args) != n) {
-		return err_badarg();
-	}
-	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		object *v = gettupleitem(args, i);
-		if (!is_intobject(v)) {
-			return err_badarg();
-		}
-		a[i] = getintvalue(v);
-	}
-	return 1;
-}
-
-int
-getshorttuplearg(args, a, n)
-	object *args;
-	short *a; /* [n] */
-	int n;
-{
-	int i;
-	if (!is_tupleobject(args) || gettuplesize(args) != n) {
-		return err_badarg();
-	}
-	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		object *v = gettupleitem(args, i);
-		if (!is_intobject(v)) {
-			return err_badarg();
-		}
-		a[i] = getintvalue(v);
-	}
-	return 1;
-}
-
-int
-getlonglistarg(args, a, n)
-	object *args;
-	long *a; /* [n] */
-	int n;
-{
-	int i;
-	if (!is_listobject(args) || getlistsize(args) != n) {
-		return err_badarg();
-	}
-	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		object *v = getlistitem(args, i);
-		if (!is_intobject(v)) {
-			return err_badarg();
-		}
-		a[i] = getintvalue(v);
-	}
-	return 1;
-}
-
-int
-getshortlistarg(args, a, n)
-	object *args;
-	short *a; /* [n] */
-	int n;
-{
-	int i;
-	if (!is_listobject(args) || getlistsize(args) != n) {
-		return err_badarg();
-	}
-	for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
-		object *v = getlistitem(args, i);
-		if (!is_intobject(v)) {
-			return err_badarg();
-		}
-		a[i] = getintvalue(v);
-	}
-	return 1;
-}
-
-#endif /* UNUSED */
-
-
 /* Generic function to create a value -- the inverse of getargs() */
 /* After an original idea and first implementation by Steven Miale */