diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js
index 0cb5526b05..6759223827 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Ajax.js
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ OpenLayers.Ajax.Request = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Ajax.Request.Events =
   ['Uninitialized', 'Loading', 'Loaded', 'Interactive', 'Complete'];
 
-OpenLayers.Ajax.Request.prototype = OpenLayers.Util.extend(new OpenLayers.Ajax.Base(), {
+OpenLayers.Ajax.Request.prototype = OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Ajax.Base, {
   initialize: function(url, options) {
     this.transport = OpenLayers.Ajax.getTransport();
     this.setOptions(options);
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ArgParser.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ArgParser.js
index c54b7afe80..52fd93de5e 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ArgParser.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/ArgParser.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.ArgParser = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.ArgParser.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /** @type OpenLayers.LonLat */
     center: null,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js
index 6032fcff5f..a494be1a20 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/KeyboardDefaults.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.KeyboardDefaults = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.KeyboardDefaults.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /** @type int */
     slideFactor: 50,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
index 43337559e1..fb43e7a79f 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/LayerSwitcher.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.LayerSwitcher.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /** @type String */
     activeColor: "darkblue",
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
index 7acf97c488..0445f0525d 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseDefaults.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.MouseDefaults = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.MouseDefaults.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /** @type Boolean */
     performedDrag: false,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseToolbar.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseToolbar.js
index 312f14277a..89d5f2fbc4 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseToolbar.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/MouseToolbar.js
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ OpenLayers.Control.MouseToolbar = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.MouseToolbar.X = 6;
 OpenLayers.Control.MouseToolbar.Y = 300;
 OpenLayers.Control.MouseToolbar.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), 
-    OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control.MouseDefaults(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, 
+                            OpenLayers.Control.MouseDefaults, {
     
     mode: null,
 
@@ -306,5 +306,5 @@ OpenLayers.Control.MouseToolbar.prototype =
             return false;
         }
     }
-}));
+});
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js
index 1241c95aa6..8b6803b7e6 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoom.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom.X = 4;
 OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom.Y = 4;
 OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /** @type int */
     slideFactor: 50,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoomBar.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoomBar.js
index 1795a93e9d..0be1ebccc7 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoomBar.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/PanZoomBar.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ OpenLayers.Control.PanZoomBar = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.PanZoomBar.X = 4;
 OpenLayers.Control.PanZoomBar.Y = 4;
 OpenLayers.Control.PanZoomBar.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control.PanZoom, {
 
     /** @type Array(...) */
     buttons: null,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Permalink.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Permalink.js
index fe3b5f6f75..d3f45f5f78 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Permalink.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Permalink.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.Permalink = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.Permalink.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
 
     /** @type DOMElement */
     element: null,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js
index 770e4735f4..75c274b3f1 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Control/Scale.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Control.Scale = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Control.Scale.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Control(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Control, {
     /** @type DOMElement */
     element: null,
     
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/WFS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/WFS.js
index 1821915104..2fccc4f1e0 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/WFS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Feature/WFS.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Feature.WFS = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Feature.WFS.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Feature(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Feature, {
       
     /** 
      * @constructor
@@ -19,16 +19,11 @@ OpenLayers.Feature.WFS.prototype =
      */
     initialize: function(layer, xmlNode) {
         var newArguments = arguments;
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            var data = this.processXMLNode(xmlNode);
-            newArguments = new Array(layer, data.lonlat, data)
-        }
+        var data = this.processXMLNode(xmlNode);
+        newArguments = new Array(layer, data.lonlat, data)
         OpenLayers.Feature.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
-        
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            this.createMarker();
-            this.layer.addMarker(this.marker);
-        }
+        this.createMarker();
+        this.layer.addMarker(this.marker);
     },
     
     destroy: function() {
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Icon.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Icon.js
index c541ce173a..98a28ab3b1 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Icon.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Icon.js
@@ -134,4 +134,4 @@ OpenLayers.Icon.prototype = {
     
     /** @final @type String */
     CLASS_NAME: "OpenLayers.Icon"
-};
\ No newline at end of file
+};
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
index e29d602ee2..dcf74c7aa0 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer.js
@@ -104,24 +104,21 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.prototype = {
      * @param {Object} options Hashtable of extra options to tag onto the layer
      */
     initialize: function(name, options) {
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
+        //store a copy of the custom options for later cloning
+        this.options = OpenLayers.Util.extend(new Object(), options);
+        
+        //add options to layer
+        OpenLayers.Util.extend(this, this.options);
 
-            //store a copy of the custom options for later cloning
-            this.options = OpenLayers.Util.extend(new Object(), options);
-            
-            //add options to layer
-            OpenLayers.Util.extend(this, this.options);
-
-            this.name = name;
-            
-            this.id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID(this.CLASS_NAME + "_");
-                    
-            if (this.div == null) {
-                this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
-                this.div.style.width = "100%";
-                this.div.style.height = "100%";
-                this.div.id = this.id;
-            }
+        this.name = name;
+        
+        this.id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID(this.CLASS_NAME + "_");
+                
+        if (this.div == null) {
+            this.div = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
+            this.div.style.width = "100%";
+            this.div.style.height = "100%";
+            this.div.id = this.id;
         }
     },
     
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js
index 90eecaa561..ece5317566 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/EventPane.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Layer.EventPane = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Layer.EventPane.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend(new OpenLayers.Layer, {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Layer, {
 
     /** EventPaned layers are always base layers, by necessity.
      * 
@@ -33,11 +33,8 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.EventPane.prototype =
      */
     initialize: function(name, options) {
         OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.initialize.apply(this, arguments);
-
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            if (this.pane == null) {
-                this.pane = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
-            }
+        if (this.pane == null) {
+            this.pane = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
         }
     },
     
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js
index a57054589a..e17d8a4029 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/HTTPRequest.js
@@ -28,9 +28,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest.prototype =
      */
     initialize: function(name, url, params, options) {
         var newArguments = arguments;
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            newArguments = [name, options];
-        }          
+        newArguments = [name, options];
         OpenLayers.Layer.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
         this.url = url;
         this.params = OpenLayers.Util.extend( new Object(), params);
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/KaMap.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/KaMap.js
index 091a7f9533..d8966a30fe 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/KaMap.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/KaMap.js
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.KaMap.prototype =
         newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
         OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
         this.params = (params ? params : {});
-        if (arguments.length > 0 && params) {
+        if (params) {
             OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
                            this.params, 
                            this.DEFAULT_PARAMS
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/MapServer.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/MapServer.js
index c86ffd8eb0..670249c1db 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/MapServer.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/MapServer.js
@@ -24,11 +24,9 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.MapServer.prototype =
     */
     initialize: function(name, url, params) {
         var newArguments = new Array();
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            //uppercase params
-            params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
-            newArguments.push(name, url, params);
-        }
+        //uppercase params
+        params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
+        newArguments.push(name, url, params);
         OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
 
         if (arguments.length > 0) {
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js
index 9bdd210940..c5aa8fb691 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WFS.js
@@ -52,26 +52,20 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WFS.prototype =
     */
     initialize: function(name, url, params, options) {
         var newArguments = new Array();
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            //uppercase params
-            params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
-            newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
-        }
+        //uppercase params
+        params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
+        newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
         OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
 
         var newArguments = new Array();
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            //uppercase params
-            newArguments.push(name, options);
-        }
+        //uppercase params
+        newArguments.push(name, options);
         OpenLayers.Layer.Markers.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
     
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
-                           this.params, 
-                           OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
-                           );
-        }
+        OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
+                       this.params, 
+                       OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
+                       );
     },    
     
 
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js
index b37910ed73..1c6f73b73b 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS.js
@@ -31,19 +31,14 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WMS.prototype =
     */
     initialize: function(name, url, params, options) {
         var newArguments = new Array();
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            //uppercase params
-            params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
-            newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
-        }
+        //uppercase params
+        params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
+        newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
         OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
-
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
-                           this.params, 
-                           OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
-                           );
-        }
+        OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
+                       this.params, 
+                       OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
+                       );
 
         // unless explicitly set in options, if the layer is transparent, 
         // it will be an overlay
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js
index a706dba20a..01d17d0c98 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WMS/Untiled.js
@@ -35,20 +35,15 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WMS.Untiled.prototype =
     */
     initialize: function(name, url, params, options) {
         var newArguments = new Array();
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            //uppercase params
-            params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
-            newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
-        }
+        //uppercase params
+        params = OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(params);
+        newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
         OpenLayers.Layer.HTTPRequest.prototype.initialize.apply(this, 
                                                                 newArguments);
-        
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
-                           this.params, 
-                           OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
-                           );
-        }
+        OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
+                       this.params, 
+                       OpenLayers.Util.upperCaseObject(this.DEFAULT_PARAMS)
+                       );
 
         // unless explicitly set in options, if the layer is transparent, 
         // it will be an overlay        
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WorldWind.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WorldWind.js
index dd7304744a..c188a39104 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WorldWind.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Layer/WorldWind.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ OpenLayers.Layer.WorldWind.prototype =
         newArguments.push(name, url, params, options);
         OpenLayers.Layer.Grid.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
         this.params = (params ? params : {});
-        if (arguments.length > 0 && params) {
+        if (params) {
             OpenLayers.Util.applyDefaults(
                            this.params, 
                            this.DEFAULT_PARAMS
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
index 70a59d907a..f9126aaceb 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker.js
@@ -28,20 +28,18 @@ OpenLayers.Marker.prototype = {
     * @param {OpenLayers.LonLat lonlat
     */
     initialize: function(lonlat, icon) {
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            this.lonlat = lonlat;
-            
-            var newIcon = (icon) ? icon : OpenLayers.Marker.defaultIcon();
-            if (this.icon == null) {
-                this.icon = newIcon;
-            } else {
-                this.icon.url = newIcon.url;
-                this.icon.size = newIcon.size;
-                this.icon.offset = newIcon.offset;
-                this.icon.calculateOffset = newIcon.calculateOffset;
-            }
-            this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.icon.imageDiv, null);
+        this.lonlat = lonlat;
+        
+        var newIcon = (icon) ? icon : OpenLayers.Marker.defaultIcon();
+        if (this.icon == null) {
+            this.icon = newIcon;
+        } else {
+            this.icon.url = newIcon.url;
+            this.icon.size = newIcon.size;
+            this.icon.offset = newIcon.offset;
+            this.icon.calculateOffset = newIcon.calculateOffset;
         }
+        this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.icon.imageDiv, null);
     },
     
     destroy: function() {
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker/Box.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker/Box.js
index 6bf8552ed5..31b850bb14 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Marker/Box.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Marker/Box.js
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
  * @requires OpenLayers/Marker.js
  */
 OpenLayers.Marker.Box = OpenLayers.Class.create();
-OpenLayers.Marker.Box.prototype = OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Marker(), {
+OpenLayers.Marker.Box.prototype = OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Marker, {
     /** @type OpenLayers.LonLat */
     bounds: null,
 
@@ -21,13 +21,11 @@ OpenLayers.Marker.Box.prototype = OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Marker(
     * @param {OpenLayers.LonLat lonlat
     */
     initialize: function(bounds, borderColor, borderWidth) {
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            this.bounds = bounds;
-            this.div    = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
-            this.div.style.overflow = 'hidden';
-            this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.div, null);
-            this.setBorder(borderColor, borderWidth);
-        }
+        this.bounds = bounds;
+        this.div    = OpenLayers.Util.createDiv();
+        this.div.style.overflow = 'hidden';
+        this.events = new OpenLayers.Events(this, this.div, null);
+        this.setBorder(borderColor, borderWidth);
     },
 
     setBorder: function (color, width) {
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/Anchored.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/Anchored.js
index 490f2ffce0..f78c47fa12 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/Anchored.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/Anchored.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Popup.Anchored = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Popup.Anchored.prototype =
-   OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Popup(), {
+   OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Popup, {
 
     /** "lr", "ll", "tr", "tl" - relative position of the popup.
      * @type String */
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/AnchoredBubble.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/AnchoredBubble.js
index 8d7e2628c8..199dc8aecc 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/AnchoredBubble.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Popup/AnchoredBubble.js
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ OpenLayers.Popup.AnchoredBubble = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Popup.AnchoredBubble.CORNER_SIZE = 5;
 
 OpenLayers.Popup.AnchoredBubble.prototype =
-   OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Popup.Anchored(), {
+   OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Popup.Anchored, {
 
     /** @type DOMElement */
     contentDiv:null,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js
index eb9fc46eb9..12c701ac50 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile.js
@@ -46,16 +46,14 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.prototype = {
     * @param {OpenLayers.Size} size
     */   
     initialize: function(layer, position, bounds, url, size) {
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            this.layer = layer;
-            this.position = position;
-            this.bounds = bounds;
-            this.url = url;
-            this.size = size;
+        this.layer = layer;
+        this.position = position;
+        this.bounds = bounds;
+        this.url = url;
+        this.size = size;
 
-            //give the tile a unique id based on its BBOX.
-            this.id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID("Tile_");
-        }
+        //give the tile a unique id based on its BBOX.
+        this.id = OpenLayers.Util.createUniqueID("Tile_");
     },
     
     /** nullify references to prevent circular references and memory leaks
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
index 46b781f8d6..4fdd79058b 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/Image.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Tile.Image = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Tile.Image.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Tile(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Tile, {
     
     /** @type DOMElement img */
     imgDiv: null,
diff --git a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js
index 46140bce22..2dad373811 100644
--- a/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js
+++ b/lib/OpenLayers/Tile/WFS.js
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  */
 OpenLayers.Tile.WFS = OpenLayers.Class.create();
 OpenLayers.Tile.WFS.prototype = 
-  OpenLayers.Util.extend( new OpenLayers.Tile(), {
+  OpenLayers.Class.inherit( OpenLayers.Tile, {
 
     /** @type Array(OpenLayers.Feature)*/ 
     features: null,
@@ -28,11 +28,8 @@ OpenLayers.Tile.WFS.prototype =
     */
     initialize: function(layer, position, bounds, urls, size) {
         var newArguments = arguments;
-        if (arguments.length > 0) {
-            newArguments = [layer, position, bounds, null, size];
-        }
+        newArguments = [layer, position, bounds, null, size];
         OpenLayers.Tile.prototype.initialize.apply(this, newArguments);
-
         this.urls = urls;        
         this.features = new Array();
     },