The current specification: 

    Returns an unmodifiable List of the integer numerals contained in the
    version number. The List always contains at least one element
    corresponding to the major version number.

An update along the following lines may be clearer:

    Returns an unmodifiable List of the integer numerals contained in the
    version number. The zeroth element of the List is the required
    major version number.  The first and second elements correspond to
    the major and security version numbers, if present.


List always contains at least one element
     corresponding to the major version number.