Summoning the Stork may have started as a euphemism for sex in Xanthian culture, but as it appears in most of the series, this action is literally responsible for babies which are delivered by long-legged birds that resemble the Ibises in Florida. The only restriction in Xanth is apparently the living and animate can summon storks. This also has led to crossbreed species like Goblin-Harpies and Alicentaurs. All children want to know how this is done, but the Adult conspiracy forbids them being told (except for the species that don't practice the conspiracy). Storks will tune out signals to dead beat mothers, as had happened with Metria.