gistfile1.js

// the correct way to use jQuery w/ XML
// also see http://gist.github.com/553364 for a normalized DOMParser

var 
   // XML string
   xmlString = '<wu_tang><member name="Method Man" /></wu_tang>',
	
   // DOM parsing object
   parser = new DOMParser(),
	
   // XML DOM object
   xmlObject = parser.parseFromString(xmlString , "text/xml");

// this is WRONG.  It works, but you're not on an XML DOM
$( xmlString ).find("member").attr("name"); // -> Method Man

// the correct way
$( xmlObject ).find("member").attr("name"); // -> Method Man

// in XHR requests the parsing is automatically done for you by
// the browser.  jQuery passes it into the success callback
$.ajax({
   dataType: 'xml',
   url: 'wutang.xml',
   success: function( XMLObject ){

      // OMG
      $( xmlObject ).find("member").attr("name"); // -> Method Man
   }
});