regression/bug in /usr/bin/make

[Aleksey Cheusov <vle%gmx.net@localhost>]

I think I've found a bug in make.

Makefile:
    var = head
    res = no

    .for i in head:tail
    .if !empty(var:M${i:C/:.*//})
        res=yes
    .endif
    .endfor

    all:
        @echo ${res}

shell session:
    0 ~>/usr/bin/make -f /home/cheusov/tmp/1.mk all 
    make: Bad modifier `:tail' for 
    no
    0 ~>

This is how NetBSD-5 make and current make work.

The problem here is that "head" and "tail" are separated by colon.
C/:.*// for unknown reason doesn't work.

Should I send PR?

P.S.
bmake-20081111 by sjg@ worked perfectly.
More recent bmake-YYYYMMDD also work badly.

-- 
Best regards, Aleksey Cheusov.