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Characteristics
- Traits and habits
European folklore often shows how werewolves in their
human forms can be recognised. The meeting of both
eyebrows at the bridge of the nose was one accepted
trait of werewolves.
Other indicators were curved
fingernails, low set ears and a swinging stride. One
method of identifying a werewolf in its human form was
to cut the flesh of the accused, under the pretence that
fur would be seen within the wound. One Russian
superstition in a similair vein tells of how a werewolf
can be recognised by bristles under the tongue.
The
appearance of a werewolf in its animal form varies from
culture to culture, though they are most commonly
portrayed as being indistinguishable from ordinary
wolves save for the fact that they have no tail (a trait
thought characteristic of witches in animal form), and
that they retain human eyes and voice. After returning
to their human forms, werewolves are usually documented
as becoming weak, debilitated and undergoing painful
nervous depression.
Werewolf - Historical werewolves
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