IT SEEMS THERE WAS THIS FELLOW WHO WAS CAUGHT KILLING A CALIFORNIA CONDOR.
HE WAS BROUGHT BEFORE A JUDGE WHO WAS KNOWN TO BE A STAUNCH CONSERVATIONIST.
THE JUDGE IN SENTENCING HIM SAID, "I'M GOING TO THROW THE BOOK AT YOU. THERE
ARE ONLY TWENTY-TWO OF THESE CREATURES LEFT ON THIS PLANET. YOU WILL SERVE
FIVE YEARS IN THE STATE PENITENTIARY, WHICH IS THE MAXIMUM THE LAW ALLOWS."
THE FELLOW LOOKED UP AT THE JUDGE AND EXCLAIMED, "YOUR HONOR, I HAVE TWO
SMALL CHILDREN AND WHEN I KILLED THAT CONDOR THEY HADN'T EATEN IN THREE DAYS."
THE JUDGE SAID, "WHY WASN'T I TOLD ABOUT THIS? THESE ARE CLEARLY EXTENUATING
CIRCUMSTANCES. A MAN HAS AN OBLIGATION TO FEED HIS FAMILY. THIS CASE IS
DISMISSED."
AS THE MAN WAS WALKING OUT OF THE COURTROOM, NOW A FREE MAN, THE JUDGE ASKED
HIM, "BY THE WAY, SIR, JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, WHAT DOES A CALIFORNIA CONDOR
TASTE LIKE ANYWAY?"
THE FELLOW THOUGHT A MINUTE AND THEN HE SAID, "WELL, YOUR HONOR, IT TASTES
KIND OF LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A BABY SEAL AND A BALD EAGLE."
