[erlang-questions] surprising bit syntax

[Ulf Wiger (TN/EAB)]

Is it just me, or is this behaviour surprising?

4> <<255>>.
<<"ÿ">>
5> <<256>>.
<<0>>
6> <<257>>.
<<1>>
7> <<257:8>>.
<<1>>
8> <<I:8/integer>> = <<999>>.          
<<"ç">>
9> I.
231

I scanned the reference manual to find a note stating that this 
is exactly what one should expect, but I couldn't find it.

Personally, I would have expected something along the lines
of badarg, which is what list_to_binary([999]) gives.

BR,
Ulf W
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