The 7 ray continuum structures of the transitional Er isotopes with A ~ 154 are studied using the reaction 74Ge(8r xn) lS8-XEr at El, b = 340 MeV. The measurements include energy spectra, total energies, multiplicities, angular distributions and lifetimes using the DSAM method. The analysis of data confirms the previously observed two-bump structure of the continuum radiation. A meticulous subtraction of discrete contributions proves the persistence of the low-energy bump even at high spins, i.e. I>40 h. The angular -distribution measurements assign predominant dipole structure to the bump at E~ =0.65 MeV, whereas the bump at E~ = 1.3 MeV is of almost pure quadrupole character at high spins. The lifetime measurements give evidence for a strong enhancement of the B(E2) values of the upper bump, B(E2)/Bsp>130. Spin-selection studies reveal, in the spin range I=30-50h an almost constant energy for the 1.3MeV bump, AE<60 keV.