Demonstrates a PHP bug: It is possible to directly call the magic method "__construct".

DirectCallToMagicMethodConstruct.php

<?php
/**
 * DirectCallToMagicMethodConstruct.php
 *
 * PHP 5.4.13 (cli) (built: Mar 15 2013 02:05:59)
 * Copyright (c) 1997-2013 The PHP Group
 * Zend Engine v2.4.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2013 Zend Technologies
 * with Xdebug v2.2.1, Copyright (c) 2002-2012, by Derick Rethans
 */

class ParentClass
{
    function __construct()
    {
        echo __METHOD__, \PHP_EOL;
    }

    function __clone()
    {

    }
}

class ChildClass extends ParentClass
{
    function __construct()
    {
        echo __METHOD__, \PHP_EOL;

        // The following call would result in endless recursion.
//        $this->__construct();
        // Accessing the superclass is possible via the special name "parent".
        // There is not distinction between member methods and static methods!
        parent::__construct();
    }
}

// The "new" operator is used to create a new instance. This invokes the magic (interceptor) method "__construct" (if defined).
$example = new ChildClass;

// The "clone" operator is used to create a shallow copy of an object. This invokes the magic (interceptor) method "__clone" (if defined).
$clonedExample = clone $example;

// The following call would raise an \E_FATAL: Cannot call __clone() method on objects - use 'clone $obj' instead in [...] on line 45
//$example->__clone();

// The following call DOES NOT raise an \E_FATAL. From a clients point of view, it should do that with the following message:
// "Cannot call __construct() method on objects - use 'new <Class>' instead in [...] on line 49"
$example->__construct();

// Question: Why is the behaviour different?