i.maxlik

[ALOBO]

Take it easy.
1. ""am I right in assuming that
the maximum likelihood classifier can be defined as a form of
discriminant analysis...?""

No way. ML is just a way to measure a distance. Discriminant analysis 
implies a (linear) transformaion so that your classes (as defined by  your
training fields) produce a partition in which the ratio between the "within
class variances" and the "between classes variances" is maximized.

2. ""...does the assumption of equal covariance
matrices of samples apply? ""
Depends on your data: test it.

Hope it helps!
Agus