The Cabinet of Lycanthropic Curiosities
Contents
Wolves
Werewolves
Wolves
Kingdom:
Animalia (all animals) Weight – Between 40 and 175 pounds, with average weight being 60 – 100 pounds. Eyes – Golden/yellow. The eyes can sometimes shine greenish orange at night. Ears – On average about 2 inches long, and rounded. Nose – Black. Approximately 1.5 inches wide. Muzzle – Short and squared. Jaws – Extremely strong, with a crushing pressure of around 1500 pounds per square inch. Upper jaw has 6 incisors, 2 canines, 8 premolars and 6 molars. The incisors are used to cut flesh from prey. The long canines which may reach 2 inches in length, pierce into flesh to hold prey. Premolars and molars are the slicing and grinding teeth, with the rear molars grinding and pulverizing food prior to digestion.
Legs and Feet – Although a wolf is dog-like in appearance, it’s legs are over-long and its feet oversized. Wolf tracks are very similar to those of the domestic dog. They consist of four pad prints plus claw marks. The fore-print varies from 4 ½ - 5 inches in length and 3 ¾ - 4 ½ inches in width. Small thumbs on their front feet do not leave a mark as they are elevated. The tracks of a wolf are straighter than a dog’s which tend to wander.
Colour – The wolf’s colouring ranges from all shades of grey, tan and brown to pure white and solid black, but the majority are a grizzled grey-brown. The tip of a wolf’s tail is often coloured black. Scat (Droppings) – Wolf scat is similar to that of a large domestic dog, but is frequently filled with hair and bone chips from consumed prey. Smell – It is generally agreed that smell is the most acute of a wolf’s senses. It is estimated to be around 100% more sensitive than that of a human. Wolves have detected odours 5 months old and have been able to smell prey between 1 and 4 miles away. Hearing – Next to smell, hearing is the most acute of a wolf’s senses. It has been said that they can hear sounds 6 miles away in the forest and up to 10 miles away in the open tundra. Vision – While a wolf’s vision is no more acute than a human’s, their peripheral vision and ability to spot moving objects, is excellent. A wolf’s night vision is far superior to that of a human. Unusually, wolves seem to have a stronger ability to detect red than any other colour. The Pack - The wolf pack is primarily an extended family unit, held together by a very close bond which is second only to that of primates such as human beings and chimpanzees. A pack usually consists of a breeding pair (the alpha male and alpha female), their current offspring and a few yearlings and other wolves. There may also be a few adult subordinate wolves in the pack who are brothers or sisters of the alpha pair. The omega wolf is the lowest individual in the pack, often subject to harassment. Most wolf packs are composed of 4 – 7 individuals, with the highest recorded pack counts being between 31 – 36 members. In Europe, packs tend only to number three to four wolves, and lone wolves are very common due to the abundance of smaller, easier prey. The wolf pack is one of the most cohesive social organisations in the animal world, and involves some of the most complex social behaviour among non-primates. The social ranking of wolves is not fixed. As they sexually mature, reach old age, become wounded or ill, or alter alliances with other pack members, the social ranking of each individual moves up or down the lupine social ladder. If one of the alpha pair dies, the next most dominant wolf, known as the beta, will take its place.
Alpha – Highest ranking The social rank of the individual wolves in the pack is enforced by a set of body positions and movements, intimidation and harassment. See Body Language. Grooming – Wolves depend on their thick coats for warmth, so they spend a lot of their leisure time grooming. It is likely that the grooming of other pack members helps reinforce the social bonds that tie the pack together. Injured wolves are intensely groomed by other pack members, and therefore provided with both physical and mental comfort.
Courting - During late Winter and early Spring, a pair of wolves may begin to court. The two will approach each other while making quiet whining sounds, then will mouth each other’s muzzles, touch noses, and bump their bodies together. There is mutual grooming, nibbling of each other’s coats and they may walk pressed together. The male may bow to the female, toss and tilt his head, and lay his legs over her neck in a flirting manner. The two may even sleep side by side. The bond between the pair is extremely strong. Lone Wolves – When subordinate members of a pack leave the group as a result of physical and mental harassment, intimidation, hunger or a need to mate, they often become lone wolves. Deposed alpha wolves may also become ‘lone’ if there is no way for them to regain control over the pack. Most wolves that leave the security of the pack, do so before the age of two years. A lone wolf haunting the fringes of a pack may be chased off, killed, or if it is very lucky, accepted as a new pack member. Lone wolves make up less than 15% of an established wolf population, but they tend to cover a larger territory than packs in their search for food or a mate. They have a high mortality rate because they are often unable to catch sufficient prey without the support of a pack. Body Language - Dominant wolves may show raised hackles, may growl and may side-swipe and body-slam into subordinate members, sometimes pinning them to the ground. They may show bared teeth, upright ears or a wrinkled forehead. They may seize the muzzle of subordinates and nip or bite them. Dominant wolves are first to eat at kills and the first to attack in aggressive encounters with other packs. Lowered tails signify submission. In extreme cases the tail is curled right under the body. Other signs of submission include ears that are folded back, lips that are peeled back to form a submissive grin, and a crouched or lowered body position. Urinating in a standing position with a raised hind leg signifies dominance, whereas urinating in a squat position is a subordinate posture. Pack members will often greet each other nose to nose, with wagging tails and wriggling bodies. Wolves can experience great joy and friendliness in a pack, but can exhibit sorrow at the death of a comrade. Crippled wolves are sometimes brought food by other members of the pack. Vocalisation – Wolves express themselves through a series of howls, yips, squeals, growls, chirps and barks. It is believed that wolves howl for many reasons: •
To notify other pack members, or other packs, of their whereabouts A howl may range from a half second in duration to about 11 seconds. Communal howls often begin with a few sharp barks by a number of pack members, followed by a low howl that builds to a louder group howl. Wolves avoid howling in unison, and vary the pitch of the howl constantly, to confuse other animals into thinking there are more wolves in the pack than there actually are. Wolf howls may be audible as far away as 10 miles under ideal weather conditions. Contrary to popular beliefs, wolves do not howl at the moon. Many studies have shown that the phase of the moon plays no role in stimulating howls.
•
Raised-leg urination •
Defecation Raised-leg urination is performed by the alpha male of the pack. Females squat and in general tend to scent mark less than males. The urine is usually directed toward some raised object such as a rock, post, stump or tree. The scent marks may be used to maintain contact between neighbours. It is very likely that scents are used to mark territorial boundaries, or to advertise the presence of a particular pack. Scent marks may also act as a location system for wolves within their territory; a series of olfactory street signs, to aid the wolves in finding their way. Curiosity – Wolves are naturally curious. They regularly investigate various new animals and places they encounter, which may explain why there have been tales of wolves trailing people under the protective cover of darkness. Despite this however, there is no documented evidence of any healthy wolf attacking a human. Part of the reason for the wolf’s curiosity, is the high level of intelligence it possesses. It has been stated that the domestic dog has a brain one sixth or so smaller than a wolf of comparable size. The difference could be even bigger. Wolves have been known to watch humans perform actions then attempt to recreate them without being prompted.
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Werewolves
Before exploring the world of the lycanthrope, it is important to first note that what we think of as a 'werewolf' today, is heavily influenced by the media. Many movies, television programmes, comic books etc, portray a werewolf as being a creature that is half man half wolf, a hybrid if you like. Traditionally however, a werewolf is a creature that changes completely from man to wolf, and back again, but never gets stuck in between! This other creature, this 'neither one thing nor the other' is actually a 'wulver' and although few of us realise it, it has taken the mantle of 'werewolf' without any argument whatsoever. The reason for this innacurate portrayal may well harken back to the black and white horror films of the early part of the last century. Without complex special effects, and the difficulties involved in convincing a wolf to do what you want it to on set, it would have been far easier to use prosthetics and hammy acting to achieve the desired result. So remember, when transformed, four legs = Werewolf, two legs = Wulver. Many uses of the term 'werewolves' in this cabinet, actually refer to 'wulvers,' and in order to limit confusion, I have, where possible, used the catch-all term 'lycanthrope.' ly·can·thro·py (li-kan'thr?-pe) n. 1.
A delusion that one has become or assumed the characteristics of a wolf
or other animal. 1
Delusion (Lycanthropic disorder) - A mental condition in which
the subject (called a Lycanthrope) believes that he or she is a werewolf.
The subject does not actually change shape, but is nevertheless capable
of being as dangerous as an actual werewolf. Most cases of supposed
werewolfry are really the works of Lycanthropic Disorder victims. 2 Folklore - Ancient belief in lycanthropy was widespread, and it still exists in parts of the world. Certain African tribes have their “leopardmen” and the like, and literatures all over the world have tales of men changing to animals. One of the most widely held of these superstitions is the belief in the werewolf (a person who either willingly or unwillingly changes into a wolf, eats human flesh or drinks human blood, then returns to his natural form). The lycanthrope, akin to the vampire, is thought to undergo his change by means of witchcraft or magic. In the Middle Ages the church condemned lycanthropy as a form of sorcery and often ruthlessly punished the supposed offenders. The term is also applied to a form of insanity in which a person believes himself to be an animal and behaves accordingly.
Becoming a werewolf is primarily an involuntary process. The most common method is being bitten by one who has already made the change, and who passes the infection into the bloodstream of their victim. In these cases the victim must be left alive, otherwise the change will not take place. Unlike vampirism, the werewolf infection cannot take effect if the subject is dead. Sorcery is another method whereby one individual may turn another into a lycanthrope. One can become a werewolf voluntarily via sorcery, though this is rare. A werewolf curse, performed by a third party seeking revenge, is referred to as the ‘Lycaeonia Curse.' This is similar to sorcery but is a more specific, targeted assault and is harder to reverse. The fourth principle method of becoming a werewolf is being born to one. If either the father, mother or both parents of a child are werewolves, then the child will be one also. Many lesser-known methods exist, including some particularly unpleasant ones such as devouring the brain of a werewolf, or of a diseased wolf, and consuming the scat (droppings) of an active lycanthrope. Transforming – Contrary to popular belief, the change from human to wolf form is nearly always voluntary, though it can be encouraged by various natural phenomenon (such as full moons and extreme temperatures), emotions (such as anger, frustration and euphoria) and physical sensations (such as hunger, pain and a surplus of adrenalin). See Transformation Mechanics. Symptoms – When looking for symptoms of werewolfry, it is important to consider the possible changes the infection wreaks upon the human mind and personality, as well as the body. Symptoms may include increasingly violent outbursts, increasing aggression, unprovoked rages, insomnia, restlessness and other extreme behaviour. Over time these symptoms can be brought under control, so they should not be relied on exclusively as evidence. Werewolves are said to be immune from aging and from most physical diseases due to the constant regeneration of physical tissue. They can, therefore, be virtually immortal. However, they can be killed by any wound that destroys (beyond repair) the heart or the brain, or any form of execution that causes irreversible brain or heart damage (such as hanging, drowning and other methods of oxygen deprivation). Like real wolves, werewolves can live alone for many years, yet the instinct to be part of a pack often leads them away from their private lifestyle, and into the confidence of a companion, sometimes human, sometimes a werewolf like themselves. Werewolf packs are rare however, as they can be hugely destructive, not only to humans but to themselves. The creator of the pack has immediate ‘alpha’ status, and will retain this until challenged and deposed by another werewolf seeking the higher status. Betas and Omegas exist in a werewolf pack just as they do in a wolf pack. The Lycaeonia Curse, as mentioned above, has often been associated with classical werewolf stories. It originates in Greek Mythology, with the eponymous figure of Lycaon being it’s first sufferer. The Story of Lycaon – Subject of possibly the first ever werewolf story, Lycaon was a cruel cult leader in Ancient Greece, who was responsible for many atrocities. Rumours of his evil made their way back to the God Jupiter, who decided to investigate. He discovered that these rumours were fact, and decided to reveal his identity to the cult. The cult members all paid homage to him, except for Lycaon, who didn’t believe it was the god himself. The cult leader prepared a feast of human flesh for his visitor. If it really was Jupiter, Lycaon believed, then he would refuse the meal, knowing what it really was, and knowing that cannibalism was a terrible sin. Jupiter became incensed when he realised what was happening, and cursed Lycaon, who fled to the countryside where he transformed into a wolfman. Lycanthropy takes its name from Lycaon, and is used to describe the condition suffered by werewolves, and by those who ‘believe’ themselves to be werewolves.
Lycaon turning into a wolf
The Nature of the Curse - Once bitten by a cursed werewolf, the subject’s life is doomed. The victim does have some hope however. If they do not taste human blood, the curse can be reversed. If the alpha werewolf (the original) or the werewolf who bit them is killed, then the curse will be lifted. If a victim of the curse does taste human blood then they are said to be eternally damned, and nothing can be done to redeem them. Even without the tasting of human blood, the curse, if not reversed, will prevent the werewolf’s soul from leaving the flesh after death. This clandestine group has supposedly existed for hundreds of years and began as a cult that worshipped Lycaon and embraced the 'Way of the Wolf.' By idolising wolves, and by behaving like them, the group believed they would either a) be reincarnated as wolves after death or b) become werewolves like their god Lycaon. The league still exists today, and though little is known of them, it is believed that they dedicate most of their efforts toward funding wolf preservation/relocation programs, and toward educating the masses about wolves and the bad press the animal has wrongly received over the centuries. The Beast of Le Gevaudon - In 1764 an area of France was experiencing a rash of murders among sheep herders who worked in the desolate mountain pastures. Rumours began to surface of the "loup-garou". Witnesses claimed to have seen a creature with short red fur and a pig-like snout. The king of France sent soldiers to the area to kill the creature. Once there, the soldiers encountered and shot the beast. The wounded beast retreated into the heavy brush, and for a few months the killings stopped… But later that year the killings started again. A hunting party was formed to try to rid the area of this terror. One of the hunters, Jean Chastel, loaded his gun with silver bullets. He caught sight of the beast and shot it twice. The party then took the dead beast down to the town for display. It was buried in the town and Jean's gun is still on display in a local church. The Gandillion Family - In the sixteenth century, there was a case of a whole family being accused of lycanthropy. The strange habits of the Gandillion Family were brought into the public eye after sister Pernette attacked two small children, killing one. Soon after, she was killed by an angry mob for her crime. A day later, her brother Pierre and her son Georges were both accused of witchcraft. They both admitted to being werewolves, transforming by using a magic salve. They were imprisoned, and were said to have acted like maniacs, their bodies covered with wounds and scratches, which suggested attacks by dogs and others during their late night excursions. Their inability to transform while in prison was rationalized by their inability to obtain the salve. Both Pierre and Georges, along with another sister named Antoinette were executed. Gilles
Garnier - In the sixteenth century town of Dole, a proclamation
was publicly read in the town square. It's contents gave permission
for the people to track down and kill the werewolf, that had been terrorizing
the village. The Greifswald Werewolves - According to old records, c. 1640 the German city of Greifswald became overrun with werewolves. The population of these beasts grew so large that any human who ventured out after dark was in danger of being accosted by one. A group of students decided that they had had enough and devised a plan. They gathered all their silver goblets, plates, buttons, etc.., and melted them down for bullets. Armed and ready, they struck out into the night to challenge the werewolves. After it was over, the people of Greifswald, once again could venture out into the night. The Werewolf of Ansbach - In 1685 the Bavarian town of Ansbach was being terrorized by a large vicious wolf. The rumors were that the wolf was actually a werewolf whose identity was that of the town's dead mayor. When the wolf was killed, the people of Ansbach dressed the wolf's carcass to resemble their dead mayor. It was then put on display in the town square and later moved to a museum. The
Beauty is a Beast - In the mountains of Auvergne, a story was
told of a royal female werewolf. In the story, a nobleman was gazing
out of his window and noticed a hunter he knew. He asked him to check
back with details of the hunt. While in the forest, the hunter encountered
a wolf, and in the ensuing struggle, he severed one of the wolf's paws.
He placed the paw in his knapsack, and returned to the castle with his
prize. When he opened the knapsack to show the nobleman evidence of
his encounter, they discovered that there was no paw at all. In fact,
the knapsack contained a woman's hand wearing a gold ring. Recognizing
the ring as that of his wife's the nobleman decided to question her
about her daily activities. When he went into her room, he found her
concealing her arm. Once uncovered, the lack of a hand revealed her
true identity. Upon further questioning she admitted to being the wolf
with whom the hunter encountered, and by her confession, she marked
herself for certain execution. The Beast of Neffer – An old Austrian village was said to have been decimated in the sixteenth century by a huge werewolf that stood taller than the tallest tree in the woods. A woodcutter was on his way home as the sun dipped below the hills, when he heard the sound of trees falling, all around him. To his horror, the head of a huge wolf loomed into view from the darkness of the canopy ahead. The creature crept forward on its hind legs as though on tip-toes, its front paws out in front of it, and its face split by a wide, evil grin. The woodcutter turned and fled back into the heart of the forest where he was pursued for hours by the sound of falling trees, until he emerged from the other side of the forest, some ten miles from where he had started. The morning Sun was rising as he knelt, panting in the grass, trying to regain his breath. He could no longer hear the sound of crashing tree trunks, but he was sure he could hear screams, far off in the distance. He returned to Neffer, taking a long route around the perimeter of the forest, and when he finally arrived that afternoon, he found every building flattened, with ravaged bodies strewn across the ground. All around him were the unmistakeable paw prints of a huge beast. The Werewolf Near Zarnow - In the vicinity of Zarnow, some time in the late nineteenth century, a terrible wolf was on the loose and causing great harm to humans and cattle. Once he even ripped a child to pieces. Then all the peasants of the region banded together and pursued him, finally surrounding him in some brush. They were about to kill him when suddenly a large strange man with a club appeared before them. Then they knew that they had a werewolf before them. This happened in the year 1831. Werewolves and Shape-shifters Around The World Argentina: Lobisón. Usually the seventh son in a family (whereas the seventh daughter is doomed to be a witch). Victims will then turn into Lobisones themselves, but it is quite rare, because most people die in the claws and teeth of these ferocious creatures. It is also said that if a Lobison's saliva sprinkles over a man or a woman, he or she will eventually turn into a Lobisón. The creature wanders the hills and mountains, feeding mostly upon carrion. However, if they meet a human being, they will instantly attack.
A Skin Walker
Early
Signs – There are numerous signals that warn of an impending
transformation, the most common being: *
The involuntary evacuation of digested and/or semi-digested food, is
believed to be an attempt by the body to prepare itself for the impending
physiological change.
Head
Image taken from the records of the D.U.C. (Department of Unexplained Crime) affiliated with the Metropolitan Police.
A rough estimation of the skeletal structure of a lycanthrope
A lycanthrope may occasionally exhibit physical signs of a recent transformation. The most common of these being a sunburn-like reddening of the skin and a discolouration similar in appearance to bruising. Because of this similarity, it should be treated as a potential, rather than definite sign.
Image
taken from the records of the D.U.C. (Department of Unexplained Crime)
affiliated with the Metropolitan Police.
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© Dean Vincent Carter 2006. All rights reserved.