lynx-dev lynx and proxy. URI question

[James Kilfiger]

Hi
I am using lynx with my university's web cache. 
This is located at http://wwwcache.warwick.ac.uk:3128/

I incorrectly set the http_proxy enviroment variable to
 http://wwwcache.warwick.ac.uk:3128
(without the trailing slash)

When I tried to follow any link with this setting, it seemed that lynx
would strip the `http:/' from the front of the link and then complain
that (say) `/www...' was an ill formed URL.  This seems like odd
behaviour.  Can anyone explain why the slash is required, and why
dropping it causes this problem

I have Lynx Version 2.8.1rel.2
which is running on redhat 6.0 (in case that is relevant)

Thanks
        James