A hunter kills and eats a bald eagle, and is arrested for violating the Endangered Species Act. He pleads guilty, and throws himself on the mercy of the court.

“Your Honor,” the hunter said, “I had no idea that it was illegal to kill and eat a bald eagle. If you let me go, I’ll never do it again.”

“You’ve committed a very serious crime,” the judge replies. “But you clearly weren’t aware of the law, so I’m willing to overlook it this one time. However, before I let you go, I’m going to ask you to do one thing.”

“Anything, Your Honor,” the hunter replies. “What is it?”

The judge says, “It’s been illegal to kill a protected species for many years, so very few people have ever eaten a bald eagle. For the record, can you please tell everyone what a bald eagle tastes like?”

The hunter thinks for a moment and then replies, “It tastes pretty good. Kind of like a cross between a spotted owl and a condor.”