      *  </pre>
      *  </p>
      *  
-     *  <p>The image location can be a URL or file reference. If it is a file 
-     *  reference, its location is relative to the location of the file that is 
-     *  being compiled.</p>
+     *  <p>The image location can be specified via a URL, URLRequest, or file 
+     *  reference. If it is a file reference, its location is relative to the 
+     *  location of the file that is being compiled.</p>
      *  
      *  <p>The BitmapImage class is designed to work with embedded images or 
-     *  images that are loaded at run time</p>
+     *  images that are loaded at run time.</p>
      * 
      *  <p>If the source is a Bitmap or BitmapData instance or is an external 
      *  image file, it is the responsibility of the caller to dispose of the 

    /**
     *  @private
     */
    mx_internal function loadExternal(url:String):void
    {   
        var loaderInfo:Object;
        		        
        if (contentLoader)
        {
            // We defer our load request to the configured content loader.
            var contentRequest:ContentRequest = contentLoader.load(url, contentGrouping);
            
            if (contentRequest.complete)
            {

    //  trustedSource
    //----------------------------------
    
    private var _trustedSource:Boolean = true;
    
    /**
     *  A read-only flag denoting whether the currently loaded 
     *  content is considered loaded form a source whose security 
