Backtracking works as expected
?- call(member(X,[1,2,3])). X = 1 ; X = 2 ; X = 3.
Doc changes
The text should probably be changed from
Note that clauses may have variables as subclauses, which is identical to call/1.
to
Note that clauses may have variables as goals. And such a variable X is identical to call(X)
.
See also
There was a specific question on this at Discourse:
https://swi-prolog.discourse.group/t/i-dont-quite-understand-the-manual-text-for-call-1/