The reference to "Insular Floras" is to Sir Joseph's lecture at the Nottingham meeting of the British Association in 1866: see "Life and Letters," III., page 47.): it makes my flesh creep; but when I pitied you to Huxley, he would not join at all, and would only say that you did and delivered your Insular Flora lecture so admirably in every way that he would not bestow any pity on you.

He felt certain that you would keep your head high up.
Nevertheless, I wish to God it was all over for your sake.

I think, from several long talks, that Huxley will give an excellent and original lecture on Geograph.Distrib.of birds.

I have been working very hard--too hard of late--on Sexual Selection, which turns out a gigantic subject; and almost every day new subjects turn up requiring investigation and leading to endless letters and searches through books.
I am bothered, also, with heaps of foolish letters on all sorts of subjects, but I am much interested in my subject, and sometimes see gleams of light.

All my other letters have prevented me indulging myself in writing to you; but I suddenly found the locust grass (221/3.