What is inside an oil filler/breather cap?

All the ones I have seen have a course steel wool like material in them.

Mine 67 dart 273 does not seem to have anything in it.

I don't like that cause the pickup point is before the air filter in the snorkel so it sucks unfiltered air into the engine.

I have thought about filling it but was hesitant for the reasons listed above.

Maybe a plastic fiber mesh oiled down would be the ticket
Yes, why not just filter the air going into the valve cover at the air cleaner, then no need at the oil filler cap?