redef var target_recv

        redef fun target_recv
        do
                # If the targeted method was introduced by a primitive type,
                # then target_recv must be set to it. Otherwise, there will
                # be a missing cast. Here's an example:
                #
                # ~~~~nitish
                # class Int
                #       fun mult_by(x:Int):Int do return x * self
                # end
                #
                # var f = &10.mult_by
                # ~~~~
                # Here the thunk `f` must box the receiver `10` into an object.
                # This is due to the memory representation of a call ref which
                # has a pointer to an opaque type `val*`:
                #
                # ```C
                # struct Mult_by_callref_struct {
                #       classid;
                #       // The receiver `10` would be here
                #       val* recv;
                #       // the targeted receiver is a `long`
                #       long (*pointer_to_mult_by)(long, long);
                # }
                # ```
                #
                # Thus, every primitive type must be boxed into an `Object` when
                # instantiating a callref.
                #
                # However, if the underlying method was introduced by a primitive
                # type then a cast must be invoked to convert our boxed receiver
                # to its original primitive type.
                var intro_recv = mmethoddef.mproperty.intro_mclassdef.bound_mtype
                if intro_recv.is_c_primitive then
                        return intro_recv
                end
                return recv_mtype
        end