  We present the results of analysis of ``snapshot'' spectra of 253 metal-poor
halo stars -3.8 < [Fe/H] < -1.5 obtained in the HERES survey. The spectra are
analysed using an automated line profile analysis method based on the
Spectroscopy Made Easy codes of Valenti & Piskunov. Elemental abundances of
moderate precision have been obtained for 22 elements, C, Mg, Al, Ca, Sc, Ti,
V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, and Eu, where
detectable. Among the sample of 253 stars, we find 8 r-II stars and 35 r-I
stars. We also find three stars with strong enhancements of Eu which are
s-process rich. A significant number of new very metal-poor stars are
confirmed: 49 stars with [Fe/H] < -3 and 181 stars with -3 < [Fe/H] < -2. We
find one star with [Fe/H] < -3.5. We find the scatter in the abundance ratios
of Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, and Ni, with respect to Fe and Mg, to be similar
to the estimated relative errors and thus the cosmic scatter to be small,
perhaps even non-existent. The elements C, Sr, Y, Ba and Eu, and perhaps Zr,
show scatter at [Fe/H] < -2.5 significantly larger than can be explained from
the errors in the analysis, implying scatter which is cosmic in origin.
Significant scatter is observed in abundance ratios between light and heavy
neutron-capture elements at low metallicity and low levels of r-process
enrichment. (*** abridged ***)
