PLACES OF REFUGE

A solid, useful survey: the origin and scope of refuges, how they differ from other types of public land, brief portraits of representative samples, policies and adaptations in aid of particular wildlife and terrain. Patent is so evenhanded that she even avoids any sense of outrage in discussing problems posed by mining and logging rights and the use of some refuges, including one important to bighorn sheep, for military exercises including bombing; she alludes to other controversies—e.g., controlling deer populations—without conveying the depth of feelings aroused. On the other hand, her closing plea for ``wild places to refresh our spirits,'' plus contribute to ``clean air, land, and water for our own survival,'' is nicely expressed and well supported by the book as a whole. Mu§oz's beautiful color photos, on almost every spread, speak even more eloquently of these resources' value. List of information sources; less-than- comprehensive index. (Nonfiction. 9-14)