subplot bug?

Hello,

Is this a bug, or am I missing something:
    

from pylab import *
s = subplot(211)
s._num

0

s = subplot(212)
s._num

1

t = subplot(2,1,1)
t._num

0

t = subplot(2,1,2)
t._num

0

This is a problem for me only b/c I'm trying to generate a plot with a total
number of subplots > 10.

I can't seem to track down the source of the discrepancy.

Thanks,

Brent