7.1.2: Backend message type 0x44 when selecting from a table

select version();
version
---------------------------------------------------------------------
PostgreSQL 7.1.2 on i686-pc-linux-gnu, compiled by GCC egcs-2.91.66
(1 row)

(doh, I thought I was running 7.1.3!).

SELECT * from arch_ranks_arch4 ;
Backend message type 0x44 arrived while idle
pqReadData() -- backend closed the channel unexpectedly.
This probably means the backend terminated abnormally
before or while processing the request.
The connection to the server was lost. Attempting reset: Failed.
!>

Trying to pg_dump the table gives me this:

<snipped>
1526 2001-11-18 07:22:15+08 0 BLANK 0 0
0 0
1414414664 4714-11--2147483624 BC 218103907

\.
ERROR: MemoryContextAlloc: invalid request size 1163153238
PQendcopy: resetting connection
SQL query to dump the contents of Table 'arch_ranks_arch4' did not execute
correctly. After we read all th
e table contents from the backend, PQendcopy() failed. Explanation from
backend: 'ERROR: MemoryContextAll
oc: invalid request size 1163153238
'.
The query was: 'COPY "arch_ranks_arch4" TO stdout;
'.

Another similar table is ok. I have vacuumed - no errors, but the problem
still remained.

These tables have had a lot of updates on them (24/7 every second or so).
Fortunately it's not critical: just test tables.

The type:
CREATE TABLE "arch_ranks_arch4" (
"id" integer,
"updated" timestamp with time zone,
"valid" integer,
"name" text,
"specialty" text,
"status" text,
"ranking" integer,
"power" integer,
"land" integer,
"forts" integer,
"description" text
);

I've truncated the table and it runs ok now.

The server itself hasn't crashed - up for 69 days.

Is it a fixed bug?

Regards,
Link.