940 .BATTLES OF PLANTS IN THE WORLD 
the windward side are bent around in the opposite 
direction. The wind keeps them bent in this direction 
so continuously that the growth and hardening of the 
wood finally fixes the branch in that position, —a good 
example of the force of habit. The young branch finds 

Fig. 290. Oak trees permanently bent by wind, Wirral, Cheshire. 
it easier to bend with the wind than to resist it. When 
it becomes old this habit is fixed, and the bent and 
gnarled branches could not straighten even if the wind 
should moderate. Very interesting examples are seen 
on most of our seacoasts, especially where the land 
