Index: E:/data/workspace/xstream/src/java/com/thoughtworks/xstream/converters/reflection/FieldDictionary.java
===================================================================
--- E:/data/workspace/xstream/src/java/com/thoughtworks/xstream/converters/reflection/FieldDictionary.java	(revision 880)
+++ E:/data/workspace/xstream/src/java/com/thoughtworks/xstream/converters/reflection/FieldDictionary.java	(working copy)
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 import com.thoughtworks.xstream.core.util.OrderRetainingMap;
 
 import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+import java.lang.reflect.Modifier;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.Iterator;
@@ -10,8 +11,14 @@
 import java.util.Map;
 
 /**
- * A field dictionary instance caches information about classes fields. 
- *
+ * <p>
+ * A field dictionary instance caches information about classes serializable 
+ * fields.
+ * </p> 
+ * <p>
+ * Serializable fields are non <code>static</code> and non 
+ * <code>transient</code> fields.
+ * </p>
  */
 public class FieldDictionary {
 
@@ -66,7 +73,9 @@
                         for (int i = 0; i < fields.length; i++) {
                             Field field = fields[i];
                             field.setAccessible(true);
-                            if (!keyedByFieldName.containsKey(field.getName())) {
+                            if (!Modifier.isStatic(field.getModifiers()) & 
+                                    !Modifier.isTransient(field.getModifiers())& 
+                                    !keyedByFieldName.containsKey(field.getName())) {
                                 keyedByFieldName.put(field.getName(), field);
                             }
                             keyedByFieldKey.put(new FieldKey(field.getName(), field.getDeclaringClass(), i), field);
Index: E:/data/workspace/xstream/src/test/com/thoughtworks/acceptance/OverwrittenVariableSerializationTest.java
===================================================================
--- E:/data/workspace/xstream/src/test/com/thoughtworks/acceptance/OverwrittenVariableSerializationTest.java	(revision 0)
+++ E:/data/workspace/xstream/src/test/com/thoughtworks/acceptance/OverwrittenVariableSerializationTest.java	(revision 0)
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+/*
+ * Created on Jun 14, 2006
+ */
+package com.thoughtworks.acceptance;
+
+/**
+ * Ensures that fields can be sub classed by 
+ * @author <a href="mailto:cleclerc@pobox.com">Cyrille Le Clerc</a>
+ */
+public class OverwrittenVariableSerializationTest extends AbstractAcceptanceTest {
+
+    public static class SuperClass {
+
+        protected String variable = "super class value";
+    }
+
+    public static class SimpleSubClass extends SuperClass {
+
+        protected String variable = "simple sub class value";
+
+    }
+
+    public static class OverwritesWithStaticSubClass extends SuperClass {
+
+        static protected String variable = "unexpected static value";
+
+    }
+
+    public static class OverwritesWithTransientSubClass extends SuperClass {
+
+        transient protected String variable = "unexpected transient value";
+
+    }
+
+    public void testSimpleSubClass() {
+        xstream.alias("super-class", SuperClass.class);
+        xstream.alias("sub-class", SimpleSubClass.class);
+
+        String xml = "<sub-class>\n" + "  <variable>simple sub class value</variable>\n"
+                + "  <variable defined-in=\"super-class\">super class value</variable>\n"
+                + "</sub-class>";
+        
+        xstream.fromXML(xml);
+        return;
+        
+        //SimpleSubClass object = new SimpleSubClass();
+
+        //assertBothWays(object, xml);
+    }
+
+    public void testOverwritesWithStaticSubClass() {
+        xstream.alias("sub-class", OverwritesWithStaticSubClass.class);
+        String xml = "<sub-class>\n" + "  <variable>super class value</variable>\n"
+                + "</sub-class>";
+
+        OverwritesWithStaticSubClass object = new OverwritesWithStaticSubClass();
+
+        assertBothWays(object, xml);
+    }
+
+    public void testOverwritesWithTransientSubClass() {
+        xstream.alias("sub-class", OverwritesWithTransientSubClass.class);
+        String xml = "<sub-class>\n" + "  <variable>super class value</variable>\n"
+                + "</sub-class>";
+
+        OverwritesWithTransientSubClass object = new OverwritesWithTransientSubClass();
+
+        assertBothWays(object, xml);
+    }
+}