Page "Werewolf" Paragraph 17

Werewolves were said in European folklore to bear tell-tale physical traits even in their human form.

These included the meeting of both eyebrows at the bridge of the nose, 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 pretense that fur would be seen within the wound.

A Russian superstition recalls 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 it is most commonly portrayed as being indistinguishable from ordinary wolves save for the fact that it has no tail ( a trait thought characteristic of witches in animal form ), is often larger, and retains human eyes and voice.

According to some Swedish accounts, the werewolf could be distinguished from a regular wolf by the fact that it would run on three legs, stretching the fourth one backwards to look like a tail.

After returning to their human forms, werewolves are usually documented as becoming weak, debilitated and undergoing painful nervous depression.