Defining method and variable with same name generates inconsistent errors

The following java code compiles and runs, despite a conflict between
the variable and field both named "foo":

class Foo {
public int foo = 10;

public int foo() {
return 20;
}

public static void main(String argv[]) {
Foo f = new Foo();
System.out.println("int foo = "+f.foo);
System.out.println("int foo() = "+f.foo());
}
}

but, if the variable declaration is moved after the method
declaration, then it no longer compiles:

class Foo {
public int foo() {
return 20;
}

public int foo = 10;

public static void main(String argv[]) {
Foo f = new Foo();
System.out.println("int foo = "+f.foo);
System.out.println("int foo() = "+f.foo());
}
}

yielding the error:

Foo.java:6: Duplicate variable declaration: int foo was int foo()
public int foo = 10;
^
1 error