In this paper we present observations of He I 1083.0 nm, He D-3 587.6 nm an
d H beta 486.1 nm taken at various positions at the solar limb. We determin
e and compare the emission of the lines in terms of line-parameters. The he
ight of the chromosphere as seen in the helium lines varies in space and ti
me and reaches values between 1100 and 1800 km above the continuum and is t
he same for both helium lines within the errors of the measurement. From a
time-sequence of slit-spectra of about 23 min we study the oscillation sign
ature of the chromosphere near the solar limb. We find velocity oscillation
s in He I 1083.0 nm that do not drop to zero near the limb as would be expe
cted of vertically oriented oscillations, we even get horizontal oscillatio
ns in the off-limb emission data of both helium lines.