Why cant a java class have protected access modifier...?

My Assumption:

I have a certain idea that, when an entity is declared as protected, it is not visible outside the package unless the class is extended. So if the class itself is declared as protected, then the class cant be extended outside the package, as the class is not at all visible outside the package. This is as good as declaring the class with default modifier. Therefore it doesnt make sense to declare a class as protected and hence the limitation.

Is what i think or is it a wrong assumption...

If it is wrong, can someone please give me the correct answer...

[597 byte] By [WaseemNadafa] at [2007-11-27 2:06:10]