The -- indicates that this is the end of parameters to perl, and the -*- XYZ -*- is an indicator to some editors that it should use XYZ language semantics when dealing with the file.

Update: I agree with the "dreadful" comment above. Put it on the second line or in a file variables section in the file.

Update: I would also suggest, since these are perl files, that you use perl or cperl instead of C.