We investigate the operator -\Delta-lpha\delta (x-\Gamma) in -\Delta-lpha\delta (x-\Gamma) , where -\Delta-lpha\delta (x-\Gamma) is a smooth surface which is either compact or periodic and satisfies suitable regularity requirements. We find an asymptotic expansion for the lower part of the spectrum as -\Delta-lpha\delta (x-\Gamma) which involves a``two-dimensional''comparison operator determined by the geometry of the surface -\Delta-lpha\delta (x-\Gamma) . In the compact case the asymptotics concerns negative eigenvalues, in the periodic case Floquet eigenvalues. We also give a bandwidth estimate in the case when a periodic -\Delta-lpha\delta (x-\Gamma) decomposes into compact connected components. Finally, we comment on analogous systems of lower dimension and other aspects of the problem.