this() and super() call in a constructor is called "explicit
constructor invokation". Those calls can not refer to any
instance variables or members of the current object.
As Huiying indicated, they can only be referenced after
returning from those calls.
JLS 8.8.5.1 says:
An explicit constructor invocation statement in a constructor body may not refer to any instance variables or instance
methods declared in this class or any superclass, or use this or super in any expression; otherwise, a compile-time
error occurs.
[This message has been edited by Nain Hwu (edited October 14, 2001).]