CHALKING THE DOOR, a former Scottish custom of tenant eviction within burgh. The law was that "a burgh officer, in presence of witnesses, chalks the most patent door 4o days before Whit Sunday, having made out an execution of `chalking,' in which his name must be inserted, and which must be subscribed by himself and two witnesses." This ceremony proceeded simply on the verbal order of the proprietor. The Removal Terms (Scot land) Act 1886 introduced, as optional to "chalking," the proce dure of giving notice to remove by registered letter posted to the last known address of the tenant. The Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1907 requires written notice of removal to be given to the tenant as a prerequisite of ejection, and "chalking the door" is now an obsolete practice.