FRISIAN ISLANDS

chain of islands off the west coast of Hurope from Denmark to Holland. Long subjected to marine erosion, their diminution, observed since Roman geographers first described them, has been retarded in part by sand dunes, earthen embankments and dykes. There are north, east and west groups, respectively Danish, German and Dutch. The N. Frisians, mostly off N. Schleswig, include Fan6, Sylt, Féhr, Amrum, Pellworn and Nordstrand. The BE. Frisians include Norderney, Borkum, Wangeroog, Spiekeroog, and others, all favourite summer resorts and bathing stations. The W. Frisians include Rottum, Schiermonnikoog, A mel and, Terschelling, Vlieland and Texel, screening the Zuyder Zee. They derived their name from the Frisians, a Teutonic people inhabiting the neighbouring territory of Fries land early in the Christian era.