Inconsistency in find ... -name ...

[L Anderson <lowella at serv dot net>]

Using find, I didn't protect spec in -name (-name 'spec') in a couple of 
instances but they still worked, viz-a-viz:
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.h
    /home/lowella/CVSROOT/src/newlib/doc/ansidecl.h
    ...
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.pl
    /home/lowella/test/examp001.pl
    ...
whereas a couple of others didn't work, viz-a-viz:
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.txt
    find: paths must precede expression
    Usage: find [-H] [-L] [-P] [path...] [expression]

    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.c
    find: paths must precede expression
    Usage: find [-H] [-L] [-P] [path...] [expression]
Could someone please tell me why the inconsistency and why
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.h
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.pl
work but
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.txt
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name *.c
doesn't?

Based on my reading of find and bash documentation, perhaps I missed the 
explanation.

Also, I rhetorically ask, why does
    $ find /home/lowella -type f -name '*.txt'
work but
    ls '*.txt'
doesn't?


Thanks,

L Anderson


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