What are the purpose of these on the FC intake snorkel?

[Rotary#10]

What are the purpose of these on the FC intake snorkel? Really what are the purpose of these for ? In the first pic on the left in the red circle what does that piece do and connect to the stock snokel? A silencer? :Wconfused:

In the second red circle there is a hole there also see 2nd pic for better view. What does that do?

Pic 1
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8995/009zaq.th.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/009zaq.jpg/)

Pic 2
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/208/010qza.th.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/010qza.jpg/)

[vex]

What are the purpose of these on the FC intake snorkel? Really what are the purpose of these for ? In the first pic on the left in the red circle what does that piece do and connect to the stock snokel? A silencer? :Wconfused:

In the second red circle there is a hole there also see 2nd pic for better view. What does that do?

Pic 1
http://img710.imageshack.us/img710/8995/009zaq.th.jpg (http://img710.imageshack.us/i/009zaq.jpg/)

Pic 2
http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/208/010qza.th.jpg (http://img684.imageshack.us/i/010qza.jpg/)

Your assumption on the silencer is accurate.

As for the second hole, my snorkle doesn't have it, so I would assume it's damage.

[Rotary#10]

Would there be any benefit in removing the silencer for air flow?

[vex]

Would there be any benefit in removing the silencer for air flow?

Not really. It adds a turbulent boundary layer to the flow which in-turn helps quiet it down, but for flow you could take it or leave it.