Following results of McMullen concerning rational maps, we show that the limit set of matings between a certain class of representations of C₂ ∗ C₃ and quadratic polynomials carries δ-conformal measures, and that if the correspondence is geometrically finite then the real number δ is equal to the Hausdorff dimension of the limit set. Moreover, when f is the limit of a pinching deformation ${f_t}_{0\le t<1}$ we give sufficient conditions for the dynamical convergence of $f_t$.

We give a thorough study of Cui's control of distortion technique in the analysis of convergence of simple pinching deformations, and extend his result from geometrically finite rational maps to some subset of geometrically infinite maps. We then combine this with mating techniques for pairs of polynomials to establish existence and continuity results for matings of polynomials with parabolic points. Consequently, if two hyperbolic quadratic polynomials tend to their respective root polynomials...