  The extrapolation of the decay amplitudes of the pseudoscalar mesons into two
photons from the soft meson limit where it is obtained from the axial-anomaly
to the mass shell involves the contribution of the 0^ - continuum. These chiral
symmetry breaking corrections turn out to be large. The effects of these
corrections on the calculated pi ^0 decay rate, on the values of the
singlet-octet mixing angle and on the ratios f_8 / f_pi and f_0 / f_pi are
discussed. The implications for the transition form factors gamma gamma* -->
pseudoscalars are also evaluated and confronted with the available experimental
data.
